ICHITECTURE 


The  Gift  of  Beatrix  Farrand 

to  the  General  Library 
University  of  California,Berkeley 


REEF 

POINT 

GARDENS 

LIBRARY 


JRCHi 


SAMUEL  HUBBARD  SCUDDER  COLLECTION, 

BIOLOGICAL   LABORATORY, 
WILLIAMS  COLLEGE. 


THE 


GRASSES  OF  MAINE. 


Designed  for  the  use  of  the  students  of  the  Maine  State  College,  and 
the  farmers  of  the  State. 


C.  H.LFERNALD,  A.  M. 


Orono,  May,  1885. 


AUGUSTA : 

SPRAGUE  &  SON,  PRINTERS  TO  THE  STATE. 

1885. 


RCHi' 


Add*  I 

LANDSCAPE 


LANDSCAPE 

AECH. 

UBBART 


THE  GRASSES  OF  MAINE. 


BY  PROF.  C.  H.  FERNALD,  MAINE  STATE  COLLEGE,  ORONO. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  grass  family  is,  without  doubt,  of  far  greater  importance  to 
mankind  than  all  the  other  families  of  plants  combined  ;  for,  in- 
cluding as  it  does  all  the  cereals,  as  wheat,  corn,  oats,  rye.  barley, 
rice,  etc.,  as  well  as  sugar-cane,  sorghum,  bamboo,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  forage  plants  which  serve  as  food  for  grazing  animals, 
we  may  well  place  this  family  far  in  advance  of  all  others  from  an 
gconomic  point  of  view. 

When  we  remember  that  all  our  bread-stuffs  come  directly  from 
this  family,  and  that  our  meat  comes  from  animals  which  feed  di- 
rectly or  indirectly  on  the  grasses,  we  can  appreciate  the  profound 
utterance  of  the  inspired  writer  when  he  says,  "All  flesh  is  grass." 

If  all  the  members  of  the  grass  family  were  swept  from  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth,  never  to  reappear,  we  can  scarcely  foretell  what 
fatal  consequences  would  follow.  It  is  very  doubtful  if  man  and 
his  domesticated  animals  could  hold  their  own  in  the  struggle  for 
existence  if  compelled  to  seek  their  subsistence  entirely  from  other 
plants. 

The  grasses  are  the  most  universally  diffused  over  the  globe  of 
any  of  the  flowering  plants,  for  there  is  no  part  of  the  world  free 
from  snow,  even  for  a  short  period  of  time,  where  they  do  not  occur, 
and  in  nearly  all  they  form  a  leading  feature  of  the  landscape.  It 
has  been  estimated  that  there  are  not  far  from  six  thousand  species 
of  grasses,  of  which  nearly  ninety  are  already  known  to  be  indige- 
nous or  to  have  been  introduced  into  Maine.  Omitting  the  cereals, 
there  are  still  over  eighty  species  of  the  grass  family  already  dis- 
covered growing  wild  or  in  cultivation  in  this  State.  Probably  not 


068 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

more  than  five  or  six  of  these  are  known  by  the  mass  of  our  farmers. 
The  clovers  are  not  included  here,  as  the}"  do  not  belong  to  the 
grasses,  but  to  the  pulse  family  (Leguminosce) . 

According  to  the  Census  report  for  1880,  there  were  1,107,788 
tons  of  hay  cut  in  the  State  of  Maine  in  the  year  1879.  If  we 
assume  that  the  average  value  of  that  hay  was  ten  dollars  a  ton,  we 
have  $11,077,880  as  the  value  of  the  hay  crop  for  that  year.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  determine  what  proportion  of  the  above  quan- 
tity of  hay  was  clover,  but  omitting  all  reference  to  the  value  of  the 
grass  in  the  pastures,  which  will,  without  doubt,  far  more  than  offset 
all  the  clover  in  the  above-named  amount  of  hay,  we  still  have  over 
eleven  million  dollars  for  the  value  of  the  true  grasses  which  were 
grown  in  the  State  of  Maine  and  cut  for  hay  in  the  year  1879,  and 
this  sum  is  greater  than  the  amount  of  the  value  of  all  the  wheat, 
corn,  rye,  oats,  barlej^,  buckwheat,  potatoes,  peas,  beans,  orchard 
products,  market-garden  products  and  forest  products  of  the  entire 
State  for  the  same  }*ear.  It  may  well  be  claimed  that  grass  is  the 
most  important  of  all  our  crops,  and  really  forms  the  foundation  of 
agriculture  in  the  State. 

We  are  informed  that  Itye-grass  (Lolium  perenne,  L.)  was  first 
cultivated  in  England  in  1677,  but  none  of  the  other  true  grasses 
for  nearly  a  century  later,  though  the  clovers  had  been  cultivated 
long  previous  to  that  time.  In  1759,  some  of  the  more  progressive 
farmers  commenced  sowing  the  seeds  shaken  out  of  the  best  meadow 
grasses,  along  with  the  clovers,  and  in  1761-64  Timothy  (Pkleum 
pratense,  L.)  and  Orchard  grass  (Dactylis  glomerata,  L.)  were  in- 
troduced from  this  country,  and  at  the  present  time  quite  a  long  list 
of  grasses  is  cultivated  in  Europe,  and  by  a  few  in  this  country. 
By  far  the  greater  number  of  our  farmers,  at  the  present  time,  con- 
fine their  culture  to  Timothy,  Red-Top,  Red  and  Alsike  clover,  while 
a  few  sow  Orchard  grass,  Hungarian  grass,  and  possibly  a  few 
others. 

A  great  mistake  is  often  made  in  sowing  too  few  kinds  of  grasses, 
and  as  a  result  the  plants  are  so  far  from  each  other  that  ample  room 
is  left  for  undesirable  grasses  and  weeds  to  creep  in.  Another  mis-, 
take  is  to  sow  a  mixture  of  seeds  of  grasses  which  do  not  come  into 
blossom  at  the  same  time,  and  it  is,  therefore,  impossible  to  cut  them 
at  a  time  when  all  are  in  the  best  condition  for  hay.  Many  farmers 
cover  their  grass  seed  too  deeply.  Very  careful  experiments  have 
been  made,  which  showed  that  when  the  seeds  of  Timothy,  Orchard 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  5 

grass  and  clover  were  covered  to  the  depth  of  from  two  inches  to 
two  and  one-half  inches,  none  of  the  plants  came  up,  and  when  cov- 
ered to  the  depth  of  one  inch,  only  about  half  came  up,  but  the 
greatest  number  came  up  when  the  seeds  were  covered  one-fourth  of 
an  inch  or  less ;  yet  how  mamr  farmers  sow  their  seed  along  with 
the  grain  and  go  over  it  two  or  three  times  with  a  common  tooth 
harrow  !  No  wonder  they  are  not  able  to  secure  a  good  catch.  It 
is  not  an  easy  matter  at  the  present  time  to  secure  pure  seed,  that 
which  is  free  from  the  seeds  of  white-weed,  buttercups,  cone  flowers, 
and  a  host  of  others  too  common  in  all  our  fields.  We  are  not 
always  sure  that  the  seed  offered  for  sale  may  not  have  been  kept 
so  long  as  to  have  lost  its  vitalit}'.  The  seeds  of  most  of  the  grasses 
are  of  little  value  if  more  than  two  years  old. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  many  of  our  Maine  grasses  not  now 
in  cultivation  would  prove  to  be  as  valuable,  or  more  so,  than  some 
now  made  use  of,  and  that  from  these  wild  grasses  species  might  be 
selected,  which  would  be  adapted  to  the  various  conditions  existing 
in  our  fields  and  pastures,  and  which  would  yield  far  better  results 
than  are  now  obtained.  When  a  farmer  observes  an  unknown  grass 
growing  luxuriantly  in  any  part  of  his  field,  he  should  endeavor  to 
find  out  what  that  grass  is,  what  is  known  about  it,  whether  it  is  of 
value  as  a  forage,  and  if  it  proves  to  be  valuable  he  should  save  the 
seed — unless  he  can  find  it  for  sale — and  cultivate  it  in  that  part  of 
his  field  and  others  of  a  similar  condition.  It  may  sometimes  be 
necessary  to  make  a  critical  study  of  a  grass  to  find  out  what  it  is 
and  what  may  be  known  about  it,  and  to  aid  in  this  work  was  the 
design  of  the  writer  in  preparing  this  paper.  A  common  lens,  cost- 
ing from  sevent}*-five  cents  to  a  dollar,  will  prove  of  great  assistance 
in  the  determination  of  the  species. 

STRUCTURE  OF  THE  GRASSES. 

A  grass  is  composed  of  root,  stem,  leaves  and  flowers.  The  roots 
usually  consist  of  small  fibers,  which  in  some  species  are  exceed- 
ingly flexible,  often  extending  to  great  distances  in  search  of  food, 
and  branching  into  innumerable  rootlets,  the  ends  of  which  are  the 
newest  parts  and  composed  of  those  cells  which  absorb  the  food  for 
the  plant.  Besides  the  roots,  many  grasses,  as  witch  grass,  have 
underground  stems  (Rhizoma  or  root-stock),  by  means  of  which 
they  rapidly  and  extensively  propagate  themselves.  These  under- 


6  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

ground  stems,  unlike  the  true  roots,  have  joints  with  scales  repre- 
senting the  leaves,  and  from  these  joints  rootlets  are  put  out  and 
new  plants  developed. 

The  stems  of  the  grasses  consist  of  nodes  and  internodes,  or  joints 
and  the  spaces  between  them.  The  joints  are  solid,  and  a  cross 
section  is  circular  in  all  our  species  with  the  exception  of  wire  grass 
(Poa  compressa,  L.,  plate  XVII) .  In  this  species  the  node  or 
joint  is  compressed  or  flattened  so  that  it  cannot  be  rolled  between 
the  thumb  and  finger.  The  internodes,  or  spaces  between  the  joints, 
are  hollow  in  all  the  Maine  grasses  except  corn  and  a  grass  found 
growing  occasionally  on  our  sea  beaches  and  known  as  Beach  grass 
(Ammopliila  arundmacea,  Host.). 

The  arrangement  of  the  leaves  on  the  stem  is  of  great  importance 
in  distinguishing  the  grasses  from  some  of  the  related  families  of 
plants.  In  the  grasses  there  is  one  leaf  from  each  node  or  joint, 
the  first  from  the  lowest  joint  of  the  stem  ;  the  second  from  the  next 
joint  above,  but  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stem  ;  the  third  leaf  from 
the  third  joint  and  on  the  opposite  side  from  the  last  leaf,  but  directly 
over  the  first,  and  so  on.  The  leaf  consists  of  the  sheath  (petiole), 
the  liyule  and  the  blade  (lamina) .  The  sheath  is  the  part  surround- 
ing the  stem,  and  which,  starting  up  from  a  node,  extends  nearly  up 
to  the  next  node,  where  it  joins  the  long,  narrow  blade  of  the  leaf. 
Although  the  sheath  surrounds  the  stem,  the  edges  merely  touch  or 
overlap,  but  are  never  grown  together  except  in  exceedingly  rare 
cases.  At  the  place  where  the  sheath  ends  and  the  blade  begins, 
there  is  a  thin  and  more  or  less  transparent  membrane  called  the 
ligule.  This  is  an  upward  continuation  of  the  sheath  above  its 
junction  with  the  blade  of  the  leaf,  and,  as  it  varies  in  size  and  form, 
it  is  much  used  in  the  classification  of  the  grasses.  The  blade  is 
long  and  narrow,  with  a  stout  vein  through  the  middle  called  the 
midrib,  and  smaller  veins  on  each  side  parallel  to  the  midrib. 

The  flowers  of  the  grasses  are  variously  arranged  in  panicles  (for 
an  illustration  of  a  panicle  see  plate  IX  or  plate  XIX)  or  spikes 
(see  plates  I  and  II),  each  individual  flower  consisting  of  what  are 
called  the  essential  organs  and  the  protecting  organs,  which  simply 
enclose  and  protect  the  essential  organs.  These  last  consist  of 
stamens  and  SL  pistil,  which  may  both  occur  in  the  same  flower,  when 
it  is  said  to  be  perfect,  or  one  flower  may  contain  only  the  stamens 
and  another  only  the  pistil.  Flowers  in  the  former  case  are  said  to 
be  staminate  or  sterile,  in  the  latter,  pistillate  or  fertile.  When  the 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  7 

staminate  and  pistillate  flowers  are  on  the  same  plant,  it  is  said  to 
be  monoecious,  but  when  they  are  on  separate  plants  they  are  said  to 
be  dioecious. 

The  pistil  consists  of  three  parts,  an  ovary,  a  style  and  a  stigma. 
The  ovary  contains  the  ovule  or  the  rudimentary  seed,  and  from  the 
top  of  the  ovary  two  styles  extend  upwards  with  feathery  stigmas 
at  their  tops.  The  flowers  are  usually  furnished  with  two  or  three 
minute  scales  (squamulce)  near  the  base  of  the  pistil.  The  sta- 
mens consist  of  a  long,  slim,  thread-like  body  called  the  filament, 
which  arises  near  the  base  of  the  ovary,  and  to  its  outer  end  is 
attached  the  anther,  a  sort  of  case  deeply  notched  at  each  end,  and 
within  which  is  a  cavity  on  each  side,  in  which  the  pollen,  or  fertiliz- 
ing powder,  is  developed.  There  are  usually  three  stamens  in  each 
flower,  though  sometimes  only  one  or  two.  When  the  pollen  is 
mature,  the  sides  of  the  anther  split  open  lengthwise,  and  the  pollen 
is  scattered  by  the  wind,  and  falling  on  the  feathery  stigma  of  the 
pistil,  fertilizes  the  ovule  within,  so  that  it  developes  into  a  seed 
capable,  under  favoring  circumstances,  of  producing  another  and, 
similar  plant.  These  pollen  grains  are  composed  of  an  outer,  some- 
what hard  and  roughened  covering,  within  which  is  a  separate  but 
delicate  sack-like  lining  filled  with  a  dense  fluid  often  containing  a 
large  number  of  minute  granules.  When  a  grain  of  pollen  falls  on 
the  stigma,  it  absorbs  moisture,  bursts  the  outer  covering,  and  the 
inner  sack  extends  down  through  the  tissues  of  the  style  in  the  form 
of  a  long  fine  tube,  still  holding  the  granular  contents  of  the  original 
pollen  grain.  This  tube  penetrates  the  ovary,  and  coming  in  con- 
tact with  the  ovule,  fertilizes  it,  probably  by  the  contents  of  the  tube 
passing  through  and  mingling  with  those  of  the  ovule. 

The  protecting  organs  are  somewhat  chaffy  and  scale-like  in 
appearance,  and  consist  of  an  outer  pair,  one  on  each  side,  called 
glumes,  outer  glumes  or  lower  glumes,  within  which  are  one  or  more 
flowers,  each  of  which  is  enclosed  within  another  pair  of  protecting 
organs,  the  lower  or  outer  one  of  which  is  called  the  flowering 
glume,  and  the  one  on  the  opposite  side,  the  edges  of  which  are 
often  enclosed  by  the  flowering  glume,  is  called  the  palea  or  palet. 
See  plate  XXXV,  a,  which  represents  the  pair  of  glumes  widely 
separated  at  the  top,  and  the  flower  represented  as  separated  and 
raised  above  the  glumes,  showing  the  large  flowering  glume  on  the 
right,  the  smaller  palea  on  the  left,  and  three  stamens,  two  on  the 
right  within  the  flowering  glume,  and  one  on  the  left  above  the 


8  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

palea.  In  the  middle,  between  the  flowering  glume  and  palea,  is 
seen  the  top  of  the  pistil,  from  which  arises  a  pair  of  styles  with 
feather}7  stigmas.  At  the  base  of  the  flower  two  hairy  or  feather- 
like  bodies  are  seen,  which  are  considered  rudimentary  or  undevel- 
oped flowers. 

Sometimes  one  or  more  of  the  protecting  organs  are  wanting,  and 
there  are  frequently  longer  or  shorter  rough,  bristle-like  bodies 
called  awns,  arising  from  the  back  or  tip  of  one  or  more  of  these 
protecting  organs,  as  shown  in  plate  XXX,  6,  and  plate  XXXVIII. 
The  glumes  with  their  included  flowers  form  what  is  called  a  spikelet. 
which  may  comprise  a  single  flower  (plate  X,  a.)  or  several,  as  in 
plate  XIX,  where  the  enlarged  spikelet  shows  a  pair  of  glumes  at 
the  bottom,  within  and  above  which  are  seven  flowers,  showing  only 
the  flowering  glume  of  each  and  five  stamens  emerging  from  the 
flowers.  The  axis,  or  continuation  of  the  branch  along  which  the 
flowers  of  the  spikelet  are  arranged  alternately,  is  called  the  radii* 
or  rhachis. 

The  only  plants  with  which  the  grasses  are  liable  to  be  confounded 
are  the  sedges  (Cyperacece)  and  the  rushes  (Juncacece).  They  may 
be  readity  distinguished  from  the  sedges  by  the  arrangement  of  the 
leaves.  In  the  grasses,  as  already  explained,  they  arise  one  from 
each  joint,  but  from  opposite  sides  of  the  stem.  In  the  sedges  there 
is  also  one  leaf  from  each  joint,  but  they  are  separated  by  one-third 
of  the  distance  around  the  stem,  so  that  the  fourth  leaf  comes  direct 
over  the  first,  instead  of  the  third,  as  in  the  grasses.  The  sheaths 
of  the  leaves  of  the  grasses  are  split  on  the  side  opposite  the  blade, 
while  those  of  the  sedges  are  entirely  close,  forming  a  complete 
cylinder  from  the  node  up  to  the  blade.  The  stems  of  the  sedges 
are  for  the  most  part  solid,  and  many  of  them  are  triangular,  but 
the  most  ready  method  of  distinguishing  them  is  by  the  sheath.  If 
this  is  closed,  forming  a  complete  cylinder  around  the  stem,  it  is  a 
sedge,  but  if  split  on  the  side  opposite  the  blade,  it  is  not  a  sedge. 
The  sedges  grow  abundantly  in  open  swampy  lands,  and  form  the 
bulk  of  that  poor  kind  of  hay  which  in  some  parts  of  the  State  is 
called  "fresh  grass"  or  "meadow  hay." 

The  rush  family  includes  the  bog-rushes  or  bull-rushes  which  no 
farmer  would  ever  mistake  for  a  grass,  and  the  wood-rushes  (Luzula) , 
of  which  there  are  two  quite  common  species  in  this  State  growing  in 
pastures  and  worn-out  lands,  and  a  third  species  found  on  mountains, 
but  not  common.  The  two  common  species  are  small,  less  than  a 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  9 

foot  in  height,  and  while  the  flowers  of  the  grasses  have  four  chaffy 
or  husk-like  scales  for  protecting  organs,  the  wood-rushes  have  six 
separate  pieces  in  the  protecting  organs,  and  they  have  three  hairy 
stigmas  while  the  grasses  have  but  two. 


DEFINITION  OF  TERMS  USED  IN  DESCRIBING  THE  GRASSES. 

Abortive.     Imperfectly  formed  or  rudimenta^. 

Alternate.     Situated  regularly  one  above  the  other  on  opposite  sides. 

Annual.     Living  but  one  season. 

Anther.     The  essential  part  of  the  stamen,  which  contains  the  pollen. 

Apex.     The  top  or  extreme  end  of  any  part. 

Appressed.     Pressed  together,  not  spreading. 

Arista te.     Having  an  awn  or  beard. 

Articulated.     Connected  by  a  joint  or  joints. 

Ascending.     Rising  obliquely  from  the  ground. 

Awn.     A  bristle-like  hair  proceeding  from  the  glumes. 

Axis.     The  central  stem  of  a  panicle,   spike,  or  spikelet,  on  which 

the  flowers  are  disposed. 
Beard.     A  long  slender  hair  or  awn. 
Biennial.     Living  through  two  seasons. 
Bifid.     Divided  into  two  portions  at  the  apex. 
Blade.     The  expanded  portion  of  a  leaf. 
Boat-shaped.     Folded  together  in  the  form  of  a  boat,  convex  on  the 

outside  and  concave  within. 

Branch.     A  division  of  the  stem  or  of  the  panicle. 
Branchlet.     A  secondary  division  of  the  branch. 
Bristles.     Short,  stiff  hairs. 
Bulbous.     Thickened  like  a  bulb. 
Capillary.     Hair-like,  very  slender. 
Cartilaginous.     Firm  and  tough,  like  cartilage. 
Carinate.     Keeled,  having  a  prominent  ridge  in  the  center. 
Chaff.     The  dried  glumes  and  palets  of  grasses. 
Chartaceous.     The  texture  resembling  paper  or  parchment  in  thick- 
ness. 

Ciliate.     Having  the  margin  or  nerves  fringed  with  hairs. 
Cobwebby.     Bearing  hairs  like  cobwebs. 
Compressed.     Flattened  laterally. 
Contorted.     Twisted. 
Convolute.     Rolled  together  inwards  from  the  margin. 


10  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

Cornaceous.     Of  a  horn-like  consistence. 
Coriaceous.     Of  a  leathery  consistence. 
Culm.     The  stalk  or  stem  of  grasses. 
Cuspidate.     Pending  in  a  sharp,  stiff  point. 
Decumbent.     Reclining  on  the  ground,  but  rising  at  the  top 
Dichotomous.     Branching  in  twos,  two  forked. 
Digitate.     Dividing  from  a  common  point. 
Dioecious.     Having  the  stamens  and  pistils  on  separate  plants. 
Diverging.     Wide!}'  spreading. 
Dorsal.     Belonging  to  or  growing  from  the  back. 
Emarginate.     Having  a  notch  at  the  end. 
Entire.     Without  notches  or  divisions. 
Equal.     Alike  in  length. 

Exserted.     Protruded,  extended  beyond,  standing  out. 
Fertile.     Having  perfect  pistils,  producing  fruit. 
Fibrous.     Having  thread-like  divisions. 
Filament.     The  stalk  or  support  of  the  anther. 
Filiform.     Thread-like. 

Flexuous.     Bending  freeh^,  bending  in  a  zig-zag  way. 
Floret.     A  name  sometimes  given  to  the  flowers  of  grasses. 
Foliaceous.     Resembling  a  leaf. 
Gfeniculate.     Bent  abruptly  at  an  angle,  like  a  knee. 
Glabrous.     Smooth,  without  hairs  or  roughness. 
Glaucous.     Having  a  light  bluish-green  color. 
Glomerate.     Clustered  in  small  roundish  heads. 
Glumes.     The  chaff-like  covering  of  the  flowers  of  grasses,  particu- 
larly the  outer  pair. 

Indigenous.     Growing  naturally,  not  brought  from  some  other  coun- 
try. 

Inlernode.     The  space  between  two  nodes  or  joints. 
Involute.     Rolled  together  inwards. 

Joints.     Thickenings  in  the  stem  where  the  leaves  originate. 
Keel.     An  elevated  longitudinal  ridge  in  the  middle  of  a  glume  or 

palea,  resembling  the  keel  of  a  boat. 
Lamina.     The  expanded  portion  of  a  leaf;  the  blade. 
Ligule.     A  tongue-like  appendage  at  the  upper  part  of  the  sheath 

of  a  leaf. 

Line.     The  twelfth  part  of  an  inch. 

Membranaceous.     Thin,  like  a  membrane,  generally  somewhat  trans- 
lucent. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  11 

Monoecious.     The  starainate  and  pistillate  flowers  separate  but  on 

the  same  plant. 

Midrib.     The  central  and  principal  nerve  or  vein  of  a  leaf  or  glume. 
Mucronate.     Abruptly  tipped  with  a  short  awn  or  bristle. 
Nerves.     The  ribs  or  veins  of  a  leaf  or  leaf-like  organ. 
Neutral.     Having  neither  stamens  nor  pistils. 
Nodes.     The  thickened  and  solid  places  in  the  steins  from  which 

the  leaves  arise. 

Ovary.     That  part  of  the  pistil  which  contains  the  seed. 
Ovule.     The  body  which  is  destined  to  become  a  seed. 
Palea  or  palet.     The  inner  scale  or  chaff  of  the  proper  flower,  placed 
nearly  opposite  and  a  little  higher  than  the  flower- 
ing glume. 

Panicle.     A  branched  and  sub-divided  stem  bearing  the  spikelets. 
Pedicel.     A  small  branchlet  bearing  a  spikelet. 
Peduncle.     The  main  stem  or  stalk  of  a  flower  spike. 
Perennial.     Living  year  after  year  indefinitely. 
Perfect.     Having  both  stamens  and  pistil  in  the  same  flower. 
Petiole.     The  sheath  or  stem  of ,a  leaf. 
Pistil.     The  central  or  female  organ  of  a  flower,  that  in  which  the 

seed  is  developed. 

Pistillate.     Having  only  pistils  without  stamens. 
Pollen.     The  fertilizing  powder  contained  in  the  anthers. 
Pubescent.     Clothed  with  short  and  soft  hairs. 
Radical  leaves.     Those  growing  from  the  base  of  the  stem. 
Rhachis  or  rachis.     The  axis  or  stem  on  which  the  flowers  of  a 
spikelet  are  arranged  ;  also  the  common  axis 
of  a  close  spike  or  of  a  panicle. 

Rhizoma  or  root-stock.     A  horizontal  underground  stem. 
Ribs.     Prominent  nerves  of  the  leaves  or  glumes. 
Rugose.     Wrinkled  or  furrowed. 

Serrate.     Having  teeth  on  the  margin,  pointing  towards  the  apex. 
Sissile.     Without  a  footstalk  or  pedicel. 
Setaceous.     Like  a  bristle. 

Sheath.     That  part  of  the  leaf  which  encloses  the  stalk. 
Spike.     A  collection  of  sessile  or  nearly  sessile  flowers  on  a  close, 

narrow  axis. 

Spikelet.     A  flower  or  cluster  of  flowers  having  one  pair  of  outer 
glumes. 


12  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

Stamen.     The  male  organs  of  a  flower,  including  the  anther  and 

filament. 

Staminate.     Having  stamens  only. 
Sterile.     Imperfect  flowers  not  producing  seed. 
Style.     That  portion  of  the  pistil  which  bears  the  stigmas  at  the  top. 
Truncate.     Abruptly  cut  off  at  the  apex. 

THE  COMPOSITION  OF  GRASSES. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  a  chemical  analysis  of  a  grass  would 
give  an  accurate  idea  of  its  value  as  a  fodder,  but  there  are  so  many 
conditions  affecting  the  matter,  that  conclusions  drawn  from  an 
analysis  must  be  taken  with  great  caution.  The  same  species  of 
grass  when  grown  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  or  even  on  dif- 
ferent soils  in  the  same  region,  often  gives  very  different  percentages 
of  the  substances  of  which  it  is  composed,  and  the  analyses  of  the 
same  species  grown  in  Europe  differ  widely  from  those  of  this 
country. 

Grasses,  like  other  plants,  are  made  up  of  cells  or  sack-like  bodies 
which  are  exceeding!}'  small  and  can  be  seen  only  with  high  powers 
of  the  microscope.  These  cells  are  at  first  more  or  less  globular, 
and  in  some  parts  of  the  plant  always  remain  so,  while  in  others 
the}T  are  more  or  less  compressed  and  become  twelve-sided  bodies. 
A  large  number  of  the  cells  become  much  elongated  or  spindle- 
shaped,  forming  the  woody  tissue  or  woody  fiber  of  the  plant. 
These  all  consist,  at  first,  of  a  thin,  delicate  vegetable  membrane, 
composed  of  a  substance  called  cellulose,  enclosing  an  almost  trans- 
parent semifluid  substance  called  the  protoplasm.  "This  protoplasm 
is  the  living  portion  of  the  plant,  the  active  vital  thing  which  gives 
to  it  its  sensibility  to  heat  and  cold,  of  appropriating  food  and  in- 
creasing its  size."  Its  exact  chemical  composition  has  not  yet  been 
determined,  but  it  is  known  to  be  an  albuminous,  watery  substance 
combined  with  a  small  quantity  of  ash  or  mineral  matter.  "It  is 
probably  a  complex  mixture  of  chemical  compounds  and  not  a  single 
compound.  It  contains,  at  some  time  or  another,  all  the  chemical 
constituents  of  plants.  Oil,  granules  of  starch,  and  other  organic 
substances  are  frequently  present  in  it,  but  they  are  to  be  regarded 
as  products  rather  than  proper  constituents  of  protoplasm." 
(Bessey).  It  is  known  to  contain  carbon,  hydrogen,  oxygen  and 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  13 

nitrogen,  while  the  cell  walls  or  cellulose  contains  only  carbon, 
In'drogen  and  oxygen. 

As  the  cells  grow  older  there  is  a  thickening  of  the  walls,  and  this 
deposit,  which  is  similar  in  composition  with  the  original  cellulose, 
has  been  called  lignine.  This  lignine  is  an  indigestible  substance, 
while  a  part  of  the  cellulose  is  capable  of  being  digested.  It  might 
therefore  happen  that  many  of  the  cells  of  the  hay  would  escape 
being  crushed  during  the  process  of  mastication,  and  as  the  diges- 
tive juices  of  the  animal  do  not  act  on  the  surrounding  mass  of  lig- 
nine, the  albuminoids  contained  within  would  escape  and  be  lost  to 
the  animal.  This  view  gives  weight  to  the  impression  that  late-cut 
hay  is  not  as  valuable  as  that  which  is  cut  when  the  grass  is  just  in 
blossom. 

In  the  cells  of  the  young  and  growing  parts  of  a  plant,  the  albumi- 
noids are  present  in  abundance,  but  in  the  older  parts  they  are 
present  in  a  much  smaller  proportion  because  of  the  increase  of  the 
lignine,  and  also  because  of  the  actual  transfer  of  the  albuminoids 
to  other  parts  of  the  plant,  especialty  to  the  seeds.  In  case  of  the 
cereals,  where  the  seeds  are  the  most  important  part,  they  are  allowed 
to  remain  growing  in  the  field  till  this  transference  to  the  seeds  is 
completed,  but  in  case  of  the  grasses  used  for  coarse  fodder,  where 
all  the  plant  above  ground  serves  for  food,  the  seeds  are  mostly 
small  and  the  larger  part  of  them,  escaping  mastication,  pass  through 
the  animal  undigested,  and  their  contained  albuminoids  are  lost,  and 
since  the  albuminoids  are  the  most  valuable  of  the  food  ingredients 
and  the  most  expensive  to  produce,  it  is  important  to  cut  and  cure 
the  hay  at  the  time  when  the  plant  contains  the  greatest  amount, 
and  at  the  same  time  when  the  largest  possible  proportion  of  it  is  in 
a  digestible  condition. 

Starchy  matter  is  abundant  in  plants,  and  is  of  value  as  a  food  if 
supplied  with  a  requisite  amount  of  the  albuminoids,  for  while  ani- 
mals can  exist  on  the  latter  alone,  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  exist 
on  starch,  since  this  substance  does  not  furnish  the  nitrogen  neces- 
sary to  build  up  the  tissues.  Starch,  as  well  as  the  fats  of  the 
plants,  furnish  the  fat  of  the  body  and  are  of  value  for  fattening 
animals. 

In  the  analysis  of  grasses  there  is  usually  given  the  percentages 
of  water,  ash,  fat,  nitrogen-free  extract,  crude  fiber  and  albuminoids. 
The  ash  contains,  among  other  substances,  a  large  percentage  of 
silica  deposited  in  the  substance  of  the  cell  walls,  particularly  those 


14  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

of  the  outer  layer  or  epidermis.  The  fat  forms  but  a  small  percent- 
age of  our  grasses,  and  the  digestibility  of  it  has  not  been  accu- 
rately determined.  The  nitrogen-free  extract  contains  starch  and 
sugar,  vegetable  mucilage  and  a  few  other  substances  which  have  a 
composition  analogous  to  that  of  starch,  and  probably  they  are 
equally  nutritious.  In  addition  to  these,  there  are  varying  quanti- 
ties of  gum-like  substances  and  lignine,  which  are  not  digestible. 
The  crude  fiber  is  a  mixture  of  cellulose  and  lignine,  and  varies  with 
the  age  of  the  plant ;  the  older  and  more  mature  contain  a  larger 
percentage.  The  albuminoids,  as  has  been  said,  comprise  the  most 
valuable  part  of  the  plant  for  food. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  GENERA  OF  GRASSES. 

I  Spikelets  with  one  flower  only   (Plate  3) 2 

\  Spikelets  with  two  or  more  flowers  (Plate  19) 21 

|  Flowers  arranged  in  panicles  (Plate  19) 3 

{  Flowers  arranged  in  spikes  (Plate  2) 13 


o  (  Flowers  with  awns  (Plates  29  and  27) 
{  Flowers  without  awns(  Plate  2) 


10 


^  f  Glumes  large  (Plate  35,  a.) 5 

{  Glumes  small  and  unequal  in  length 9 

f  Flowers  with  a  copious  tuft  of  hairs  at  the  base,  nearlv  eqnal- 

5  •<      ling  the  length  of  the  flowers  (Plate  9) DEYEUXIA. 

(  Flowers  without  hairs  at  the  base  of  the  flowering  glume..  . .    G 

(  Flowering  glume  without  an  awn  at  the  end 

6  •<                                                             Some  species  of  AGROSTIS. 
(Flowering  glume  with  an  awn  at  the  end 7 

„  |  Flowers  with  three  stamens 8 

{  Flowers  with  one  stamen CINNA. 

(  Flowers  raised  above  the  base  of  the  glumes  on  a  short  stem, 

8  -]  STIPA. 
(Flowers  not  raised  above  the  base  of  the  glumes,  ORYZOPSIS. 

9  f  Flowers  with  three  stamens MUHLENBERGIA. 

{  Flowers  with  two  stamens BRACHYELYTRUM. 

-  ~  (  Glumes  present 11 

{  Glumes  wanting LEERSIA. 

("  Flowering  glume  and  palea  very  unequal  in  length,  AGROSTIS. 
{  Flowering  glume  and  palea  equal  in  length  or  nearly  so 12 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  15 

{  Outer  glumes  much  shorter  than  the  flowering  glume, 
SPOROBOLUS. 
Outer  glumes  about  the  same  length  as  the  flowering  glume, 
AGROSTIS  and  SPOROBOLUS. 

1  o  f  Flowers  with  awns 14 

{  Flowers  without  awns 20 

1  M  f  Spikes  solitary 15 

{  Spikes  two  or  more ANDROPOGON. 

1 ,.  f  Spikes  simple  or  nearly  so 16 

(  Spikes  paniculate  or  lobed 18 

jg  f  Involucre  of  two  or  more  bristles SETARIA. 

{  Involucre  none 17 

T  Flowering  glumes  with  awns  from  one  to  three  times  their 

j-  (      length ALOPECURUS. 

1  Flowering  glumes  with  awns  five  times  their  length, 

[  HORDEUM. 

Flowers  without  awns HIEROCHLOA. 

Flowers  with  awns ...  19 

iq  f  Only  the  flowering  glumes  awned MUHLENBERGIA. 

\  Flowering  glume  and  palea  both  awned ....  ANTHOXANTHUM. 

2Q  f  Spikes  terminal,  cylindrical  and  solitary PHLEUM. 

"[  Spikes  one-sided,  several SPARTINA. 

21  f  Flowers  arranged  in  panicles 22 

(  Flowers  arranged  in  spikes 33 

22  f  Flowers  with  awns 23 

{  Flowers  without  awns 28 

9o  f  Flowering  glume  awned  on  the  back 24 

{  Flowering  glume  awned  from  the  end 27 

(  Awn  arises  near  the  base  of  the  flowering  glume AIRA. 

24  j  Awn  arises  above  the  middle  of  the  back  of  the  flowering 

(      glume , , 25 

Awn  arises  near  the  middle  and  twisted    TRISETUM. 

Awn  arises  at  or  near  the  apex,  not  twisted   26 

{Spikelets  from  three  to  six  flowered  (Plate  29) AVENA. 
Spikelets  from  five  to  twelve  flowered  (Plate  22) .  .  .BROMUS. 

Awn  twisted  and  arising  from  a  cleft  at  the  end  of  the  flow- 
ering glume DANTHONIA. 

Awn  not  twisted,  arising  from  the  end  which  is  not  cleft, 

FESTUCA. 


16  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

2g  f  Glumes  very  unequal  in  length PANICUM. 

{  Glumes  equal  in  length  or  nearly  so 29 

2g  j  Stems  of  the  flowers,  within  the  glumes,  hairy 30 

{  Stems  of  the  flowers  not  hairy 31 

OQ  f  Hairs  as  long  as  the  flowers  or  nearly  so PHRAGMITES. 

"[  Hairs  much  shorter  than  the  flowers.  . . GRAPHEPHORUM. 

01  J  Spikelets  much  flattened BRIZOPYRUM. 

{  Spikelets  only  slightly  flattened 32 

«2  f  Outer  glumes  longer  than  the  flowering  glume    .  .   PHALARIS. 
(_  Outer  glumes  equal  to,  or  shorter  than  the  flowering  glumes,  33 

OQ  |  Flowering  glume  from  five  to  seven  nerved GLYCERIA. 

(  Flowering  glume  from  one  to  five  nerved POA. 


o .  |  Stem  with  only  one  spike.    . . 
\  Stem  with  more  than  one  spik 


35 

e ..  ..37 


or-  (  Spikelets  arranged  alternately  on  each  side 36 

(  Spikelets  not  arranged  alternately ELYMUS. 

0,6  f  Spikelets  with  only  one  glume LOLIUM. 

(  Spikelets  with  two  glumes TRITJCUM. 

^  f  Glumes  present 38 

{  Glumes  wanting GYMNOSTICHIUM. 

on  f  Spikes  slender,  terminal CYNODON. 

|  Spikes  somewhat  globose,  terminal  and  lateral . . .  .DACTYLIS. 


Family— GU AMINES.     (Grass  Family.) 

Genus  LEERSIA,  Solander. 
Le-er'-si-a. 

Named  in  honor  of  J.  D.  Leers,  a  German  botanist. 

The  spikelets  are  one-flowered  without  lower  glumes,  and  more  or 
less  crowded  into  one-sided,  panicled  spikes,  in  which  they  overlap 
each  other  more  or  less.  The  flowering  glume  is  of  the  texture  of 
paper,  strongly  flattened,  awnless  and  with  minute  sharp  bristles 
along  the  keels.  The  palea  is  of  about  the  same  length  as  the 
flowering  glume,  but  not  more  than  half  as  wide,  and  similarly  beset 
with  minute  bristles.  Only  one  species  of  this  genus  has  as  yet 
been  reported  in  this  State. 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  17 

1.     LEERSIA  ORYZOIDES,  Swartz. 
Le-er'-si-a  o-ry-zoi'-des. 

Common  Names.  Rice  Cut-Grass,  White  Grass,  Cut  Grass, 
False  Rice,  Prickle  Grass. 

Perennial.  The  stems  are  from  two  to  four  feet  high,  reclining 
on  the  ground  but  rising  near  the  top  (decumbent)  ;  leaves  from 
two  to  three  lines  wide,  frequently  a  foot  or  more  long,  ve^  rough 
with  minute  prickles  along  the  edges  and  veins,  while  the  sheaths 
have  the  prickles  arising  from  between  the  veins ;  joints  (nodes) 
densely  covered  with  bristly  hairs ;  panicles  loosely  branched,  the 
lower  part  often  covered  by  the  sheath  of  the  upper  leaf.  Spikelets 
somewhat  spreading,  flattened,  from  two  and  a  half  to  three  lines 
long  and  of  a  whitish  color.  Flowers  in  August  and  September. 

This  grass  is  common  in  wet  places,  but  is  not  regarded  of  much 
value,  yet  cattle  will  eat  it  when  they  can  get  nothing  better. 
From  all  accounts  of  its  value  it  would  seem  desirable  to  raise  some 
other  grass  in  its  place.  I  am  not  aware  that  any  analysis  has  been 
made  of  it,  or  that  it  has  been  subjected  to  any  accurate  feeding 
tests. 

Genus  ALOPECURUS,    Linneus. 
Al-o-pe-cu'-rus. 

From  the  Greek,  alopex,  a  fox,  and  oura,  a  tail ;  in  allusion  to 
the  form  of  the  spike. 

The  flowers  are  arranged  in  a  dense,  cylindrical  and  soft  spike. 
Spikelets  one-flowered  ;  glumes  nearly  equal,  boat-shaped,  keeled 
and  without  awns ;  flowering  glume  with  an  awn  which  arises  below 
the  middle  of  the  back  ;  palea  wanting  ;  stamens  three.  Two  spe- 
cies belonging  to  this  genus  are  known  to  occur  in  Maine. 

2.     ALOPECURUS  PRATENSIS,  Linneus. 

Al-o-pe-cu'-rus  pra-teri-sis. 

PLATE  I. 

Common  Names.     Meadow  Foxtail,  Common  Foxtail  Grass. 

Perennial.     The  stems  are  erect  and  smooth,  about  two  feet  high,, 
but  in   rich  soil   they  sometimes   reach  three  feet  or  even   more. 
Leaves  smooth  and  flat,    the  upper  one  shorter  than  its  inflated 

2 


18  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

sheath.  Spike  cylindrical,  obtuse,  and  of  a  yellowish  green  color ; 
glumes  acute,  somewhat  hairy  ;  flowering  glume  about  the  same 
length  as  the  outer  glumes,  with  an  awn  about  twice  the  length  of 
the  flower,  arising  from  below  the  middle  of  the  back. 

This  species  was  introduced  from  Europe  and  flowers  in  June 
and  July. 

This  grass  is  rarely  cultivated  in  this  State,  and  perhaps  for  field 
culture  will  never  prove  as  desirable  as  some  other  species,  for  the 
reason  that  it  seldom  grows  more  than  two  feet  high  and  would  not 
yield  more  than  a  ton  to  the  acre,  and  also  that  it  flowers  so  early 
that  other  grasses  growing  with  it  would  not  be  ready  to  cut  when 
this  is  in  the  best  condition  for  hay.  There  is  little  doubt,  however, 
that  it  is  one  of  our  best  grasses  for  pastures  because  it  endures  the 
cropping  of  cattle  and  sheep  remarkably  well,  and  also  yields  a 
good  second  crop.  It  does  not  thrive  well  on  dry,  sandy  soils,  but 
is  best  adapted  to  moist,  rich  lands,  and  requires  three  or  four  3Tears 
to  become  established  and  reach  full  perfection.  In  England  it  is 
regarded  one  of  the  most  valuable  pasture  grasses,  both  on  account 
of  the  earliness  and  abundance  of  its  leafy  produce,  as  well  as 
from  the  rapid  reproduction  of  the  same  when  continuously  eaten  or 
ciit  down,  and  the  avidity  with  which  it  is  eaten  by  all  herbivorous 
animals. 

A  chemical  analysis  of  this  grass  made  at  the  Department  of  Ag- 
riculture in  Washington  gave  the  following  percentages:  ash  7.75, 
fat  3.36,  nitrogen-free  extract  54.30,  crude  fibre  23.78,  albumi- 
noids 10.81.  This  analysis  was  made  from  grass  grown  in  Wash- 
ington and  cut  when  it  was  in  bloom. 

3.     ALOPECURUS  GENICULATUS,  Linneus. 
Al-o-pe-cu'-rus  c/en-i-cu-la'-tus. 

Common  Names.     Floating  Foxtail,  Water  Foxtail  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high,  ascend- 
ing, bent  at  the  lower  joints  ;  leaves  smooth  and  flat,  the  upper  one 
as  long  as  its  sheath.  Spike  slender;  glumes  obtuse,  flowering 
glumes  rather  shorter  than  the  outer  glumes,  awn  extending  half  its 
length  outside  of  the  flower. 

1  This  species,  which  does  not  appear  to  be  very  common  in  this 
State,  is  found  along  the  margins  of  pools  and  in  wet  places,  often 
standing  in  the  water,  and  flowers  in  June.  Flint,  in  his  Grasses 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  19 

and  Forage  Plants,  states  that  it  is  not  much  relished  by  stock  of 
any  kind,  while  it  yields  but  a  small  amount  of  herbage,  but  this 
statement  needs  to  be  verified.  Alopecurus  aristulatus,  Michx., 
now  regarded  as  a  variety  of  the  above,  occurs  in  Maine. 

Genus   PHLEUM,    Linneus. 

Phk'-um. 

An  ancient  Greek  name. 

The  flowers  are  crowded  into  a  dense,  cylindrical  spike  ;  spikelets- 
one-flowered  ;  glumes  equal  in  length  and  with  a  short  awn  or  bris- 
tle on  the  end  of  each  ;  flowering  glume  and  palea  without  awns ;. 
stamens  three.  This  genus  is  represented  in  Maine  by  only  one 
species. 

4.     PHLEUM  PRATENSE,  Linneus. 

Phle'-um  pra-ten'-se. 

PLATE  II. 

Common  Names.     Timothy,  Herds-Grass. 

This  perennial  grass  grows  from  two  to  four  feet  high  and  has-  a 
cylindrical  spike  from  three  to  six  inches  long  on  the  top  of  the  stem. 
The  glumes  are  of  equal  length  and  tipped  with  a  short  bristle  or 
awn,  and  there  is  a  row  of  fine  bristles  along  the  back.  This  well- 
known  grass  is  more  extensively  cultivated  in  this  State  than  any 
other  species,  and  is  the  favorite  grass,  especially  for  horses. 

Specimens  of  this  grass,  grown  on  heavy,  clayey  loam  on  the 
College  farm  at  Orono,  were  cut  when  in  full  blossom  and  analyzed 
by  Prof.  W.  O.  Atwater,  who  obtained  the  following  percentages  :. 
Ash  4.35,  albuminoids  7.12,  crude  fiber  33.28,  nitrogen,  free 
extract,  53.29,  fat  1.96.  The  average  of  nine  different  analyses 
made  of  this  species  cut  in  different  stages  of  the  growth,  from 
Maine,  New  Hampshire  and  Connecticut,  differ  but  little  from  the 
above. 

Genus  SPOROBOLUS,  R.  Brown. 

Spo-rob'-o-lus. 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  spora,  a  seed,  and  ballo,  to  cast  out,  in 
allusion  to  the  fact  that  their  seeds  fall  as  soon  as  mature. 

Spikelets  containing  one,  or  rarely  two  flowers,  in  an  open  or  con- 
tracted panicle.  Glumes  unequal,  the  lower  one  much  shorter  than 
the  upper ;  flowering  glume  and  palea  about  equal  in  length. 

Two  species  belonging  to  this  genus  are  known  to  occur  in  Maine. 


20  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

5.     SPOROBOLUS  CUSPID ATUS,  Torrey. 
Spo-rob' -o-lus  cus-pi-da'-tus. 

Common  Names.     None. 

This  grass  has  a  slender,  erect  stem,  from  six  to  twelve  inches  high. 
The  glumes  are  very  acute  and  much  shorter  than  the  flowering 
glnme  and  palea.  These  last  are  nearly  equal  in  length,  but  the 
flowering  glume  is  tipped  with  a  sharp,  stiff  point  (cuspidate). 

This  species  was  found  at  St.  Francis,  in  Northern  Maine,  by  Miss 
Kate  Furbish  of  Brunswick.  It  is  too  small  and  fine  to  be  of  any 
great  value  to  farmers. 

6.     SPOROBOLUS  SEROTINUS,  Gray. 
Spo-rob' -o-lus  ser-ot'-i-nus. 

Common  Name.     Late-Flowering  Sporobolus. 

Stems  very  slender  and  erect,  from  eight  to  fifteen  inches  high. 
Spikelets  very  minute  (scarcely  half  a  line  long),  on  very  fine  branch- 
lets.  Glumes  ovate  and  obtuse,  about  half  the  length  of  the  flow- 
ering glume. 

This  very  delicate  grass  grows  in  sandy,  wet  places,  and  flowers 
in  September.  It  is  of  no  especial  agricultural  value. 

Genus  AGROSTIS,  Linneus. 
A-gros-tis. 

From  the  Greek,  agros,  a  field,  in  allusion  to  the  place  of  growth. 

Spikelets  one-flowered,  and  arranged  in  a  spreading  or  contracted 
panicle.  Glumes  nearly  equal,  the  lower  one  rather  longer  than  the 
upper ;  the  flowering  glume  is  rather  shorter  than  the  lower  glumes, 
and  in  some  species  has  a  short  awn  on  the  back.  The  palea  is 
often  minute  and  sometimes  wanting.  Four  species  of  Agrostis  are 
known  to  grow  in  this  State  and  they  are  all  of  greater  or  less  value. 

7.     AGROSTIS  PERENNANS,  Tuckerman. 
A-gros-tis  pe-ren'-nans. 

Common  Name.     Thin-Grass. 

Stem  erect,  from  a  bent  joint  near  the  base,  from  one  to  two  feet 
high.  Panicle  spreading,  pale  green  ;  the  branches  short,  divided 


THE    GRASSES    OP   MAINE.  21 

and  flower-bearing  below  the  middle.  Flowering  glume  without  an 
awn  or  rarely  short  awned,  shorter  than  the  lower  glumes  ;  palea 
minute  or  wanting. 

This  grass  grows  in  damp,  shady  places,  and  flowers  in  July. 

8.     AGROSTIS  SCABRA,  Willdenow. 
A-gros'-tis  sea-bra. 

Common  Names.     Hair-Grass,  Fly- Away  Grass,  Tickle  Grass. 

Stem  very  slender,  erect,  from  one  to  two  feet  high.  Flowers  in  a 
very  loose,  purplish  panicle  ;  the  long,  slim  branches  bear  flowers  at 
and  near  the  end.  Glumes  very  acute,  the  lower  one  somewhat  longer 
than  the  upper  one  ;  flowering  glume  usually  awnless,  rarely  with  a 
short  awn  ;  palea  wanting.  The  branches  of  the  panicle  and  the 
back  of  the  glumes  are  roughened  with  very  minute  bristles,  because 
of  which  it  received  the  specific  name  scabra,  meaning  rough.  This 
grass  is  remarkable  for  the  long  and  fine  branches  of  the  very  loose 
panicle. 

Common  in  dry  places.     Flowers  in  July  and  August. 

Flint  states  that  it  is  of  no  agricultural  value,  and  Gould  says 
that  cattle  dislike  it. 

9.     AGROSTIS  CANINA,   Linneus. 
A-gros'-tis  ca-ni'-na. 

PLATE  III. 

Common  Names.  Brown  Bent-Grass,  Dog's  Bent-Grass,  Moun- 
tain Red-Top. 

Stem  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches  high,  erect ;  the  lower  leaves 
bristle  form,  with  their  edges  rolled  in,  those  of  the  stem  flat  and 
wider.  Panicle  spreading ;  glumes  nearly  equal  in  length,  very 
acute ;  flowering  glume  shorter  than  the  lower  glumes  and  with  a 
very  fine  awn  arising  from  the  middle  of  the  back  and  extending  a 
little  beyond  the  end  of  the  glumes  ;  spikelets  brownish  or  purplish, 
rarely  greenish. 

A  variety  of  this  species  called  alpina,  with  a  shorter  and  more 
spreading  panicle,  grows  on  mountain  tops. 

This  grass  grows  mostly  in  mountainous  regions,  though  some- 
times in  poor,  wet,  peat}T  soil.  It  grows  in  detached  patches,  and 
is  seldom  found  in  association  with  any  other  grass.  Flint  sa}'s  it 


22  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

is  of  no  agricultural  value,  but  it  probably  affords  pasturage  for 
sheep  in  the  regions  where  it  grows. 

10.     AGROSTIS  VULGARIS,  Withering. 
A-gros'-tis  vul-ga'-ris. 

PLATE  IV. 

Common  Names.  Red-Top,  Herds-Grass  (in  Pennsylvania), 
Fine-Top,  Burden's  Grass,  Bent-Grass,  Rhode  Island  Bent. 

Perennial.  Stems  mostly  erect,  sometimes  bent  at  the  base, 
from  one  to  two  feet  high  or  even  more,  growing  from  creeping 
root-stocks,  which  interlace  so  as  make  a  firm  sod.  The  glumes 
are  nearly  equal  in  size,  and  smooth,  except  along  the  keel,  where 
they  are  somewhat  roughened.  The  flowering  glume  is  awnless 
and  a  little  shorter  than  the  lower  glumes,  while  the  palea  is  only 
from  one-half  to  three-fourths  as  long. 

Agrostis  a/6a,  L.  is  now  regarded  as  a  variety  of  the  above.  It 
differs  in  having  a  closer  panicle  and  a  longer  ligule. 

Agrostis  vulgaris  is  one  of  the  most  extensively  cultivated  grasses 
in  the  State.  It  does  well  on  any  soil,  but  succeeds  best  on  moist, 
rich  land.  If  fed  down  close  it  is  a  good  forage  grass  for  pastures, 
but  it  is  very  apt  in  poor,  dry  pastures  to  send  up  a  fine,  wiry  stem 
which  the  cattle  avoid. 

An  analysis  of  this  grass  made  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
at  Washington,  gave  the  following  percentages  :  Ash  7.27,  fat  2.87, 
nitrogen-free  extract  56.82,  crude  fiber  22.02,  albuminoids  11.02. 
This  analysis  was  made  of  grass  grown  in  the  Department  grounds 
in  good  soil,  and  cut  when  it  was  in  full  bloom.  Another  analysis 
made  of  grass  grown  in  poorer  soil  at  the  same  place  gave,  ash 
5.84,  fat  5.30,  nitrogen-free  extract  58.49,  crude  fiber  20.44,  albu- 
minoids 9.95.  This  shows  that  grass  grown  on  a  rich  soil  yields  a 
larger  percentage  of  the  albuminoids  than  that  grown  on  poor  soil. 
This  fact,  together  with  that  of  an  increased  quantity  of  hay,  is  a 
strong  argument  in  favor  of  high  cultivation  for  our  grass  lands. 

Genus  CINNA,  Linneus. 

Cin'-na. 
•     Derivation  unknown. 

Spikelets  one-flowered,  much  flattened,  in  an  open,  spreading 
panicle ;  glumes  narrow,  acute,  strongly  keeled  and  beset  with 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  23 

bristles,  the  upper  somewhat  longer  than  the  lower  ;  flowering  glume 
raised  slightly  above  the  base  of  the  inside  of  the  lower  glumes, 
and  bearing  a  short  awn  on  the  back  just  below  the  apex  ;  palea 
slightly  shorter  than  the  flowering  glume.  Stamen  one. 


11.       ClNNA   ARUNDINACEA, 

Cin'-na   a-run-di-na'-ce-a. 
PLATE  V. 

Common  Name.     Wood  Reed  Grass. 

Stein  erect,  from  three  to  six  feet  high  ;  leaves  a  foot  long  and 
nearly  half  an  inch  wide  ;  ligule  conspicuously  long.  Panicle  from 
six  inches  to  a  foot  in  length,  rather  dense,  the  branches  spreading 
in  flower  and  erect  afterwards. 

This  grass  grows  in  moist  woods  and  shady  swamps,  flowering 
in  August  and  September.  It  would  furnish  a  large  amount  of 
fodder,  but  no  experiments  have  been  made  to  cultivate  it  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  its  value. 

An  analysis  made  of  specimens  of  it  collected  in  Indian  Territoiy, 
gave,  at  the  Depai'tment  of  Agriculture,  the  following  percentages  : 
Ash  6.G9,  fat  2.98,  nitrogen-free  extract,  54.47,  crude  fiber  29.64, 
albuminoids  6.22.  We  are  not  informed  what  stage  it  was  in  when 
collected,  but  the  percentage  of  the  albuminoids  is  high  enough  to 
make  it  deserving  of  further  investigation. 

Genus  MUHLENBERGIA,  Schreber. 

Mu-len-ber'-gi-a. 

Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  a  distinguished  American 
botanist. 

Spikelets  one-flowered,  arranged  in  contracted  or  rarely  open 
panicles  ;  glumes  mostly  bristle-pointed  or  acute,  the  lower  one 
rather  smaller  than  the  upper  one,  or  minute  ;  flowering  glume  from 
three  to  five-nerved,  mucionate  or  awned,  sometimes  with  a  long,  fine 
awn  from  the  apex  between  two  short  teeth,  frequently  somewhat 
hairy  at  the  base  ;  palea  nearly  the  same  length  as  the  flowering  glume 
in  some  species  but  shorter  in  others.  Stamens  three.  There  are 
three  species  of  this  genus  in  Maine,  which  may  be  separated  by 
the  following  synopsis  : 


24  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

j  (  Flowering  glume  sharp-pointed  at  the  tip 2 

(  Flowering  glume  with  an  awn  at  the  tip M.  sylvatica. 

o  f  Lower  glumes  with  awns  at  the  tip M.  glomerata. 

\  Lower  glumes  without  awns  at  the  tip   M.  Mexicana. 

12.  MUHLENBERGIA    GLOMERATA,  Tl'inillS. 

Mu-len-ber'-gi-a  glom-e-ra'-ta. 

PLATE    VI. 

Common  Names.  Spiked  Muhlenbergia,  Cluster-Spiked  Muhlen- 
bergia,  Clustering  Muhlenbergia. 

Stems  erect,  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  seldom  branching.  Pan- 
icle from  two  to  four  inches  long,  composed  of  numerous,  close  clus- 
ters of  flowers,  forming  an  interrupted,  glomerate  spike.  Glumes 
long,  narrow  and  acute,  equal  in  length,  each  tapering  into  an  awn 
as  long  as  the  glume  ;  flowering  glume  and  palea  unequal  in  length, 
much  shorter  than  the  glumes. 

This  grass  grows  on  wet,  swampy  lands,  and  flowers  in  August. 
Dr.  Vasey  says  that  it  is  utilized  as  one  of  the  native  products  of 
wet  meadows  in  the  making  of  what  is  called  wild  hay,  and  in  Col- 
orado and  Kansas  is  recommended  as  an  excellent  grass  for  hay. 
Specimens  from  Minnesota  were  analyzed  at  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  yielded  ash  lf».02,  fat  5.77,  nitrogen-free  extract, 
41.21,  crude  fiber  17.68,  albuminoids  20.32.  This  exceedingly  high 
percentage  of  the  albuminoids  is  certainly  deserving  of  attention,  and 
this  species  should  be  investigated  in'  this  State,  for  we  are  liable  to 
find  among  our  wild  grasses  some  which  will  prove  of  great  value. 

13.  MUHLENBERGIA  MEXICANA,  Trinius. 

Mu-len-ber'-gi-a  Mex-i-ca'-na. 
PLATE   VII. 

Common  Names.     Wood  Grass,  Mexican  Muhlenbergia. 

Stems  decumbent  (reclining  on  the  ground,  the  ends  inclining  to 
rise) ,  two  or  three  feet  high,  very  much  branched,  from  scaly  creep- 
ing root-stocks.  Panicles  along  the  side  and  at  the  end  of  the  stems, 
sometimes  partially  enclosed  by  the  sheaths  of  the  leaves.  Glumes 
nearly  equal  in  length,  without  awns  but  sharp-pointed,  a  little  shorter 
than  the  flowering  glume  and  palea,  which  are  very  acute  and  of 
equal  length. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  25 

This  grass  grows  in  wet  grounds  and  moist  woods,  and  flowers  in 
August. 

Flint  says  that  cattle  eat  it  very  readily,  and  as  it  blossoms  late 
in  the  season  it  is  of  some  value,  though  it  is  frequently  regarded  as 
a  troublesome  weed  because  of  its  spreading  root-stocks  and  difficult 
removal. 

The  analysis  of  this  grass  made  in  Washington,  of  specimens  from 
Pennsylvania,  gave  ash  4.33,  fat  2.69,  nitrogen-free  extract  65.47, 
crude  fiber  22.69,  albuminoids  4.82. 

14.     MUHLENBERGIA  SYLVATiCA,  Torrey  and  Gray. 
Mu-len-ber'-yi-a   syl-vat'-i-ca. 

PLATE  VIII. 

Common  Names.     Wood  Grass,  Wood  Muhlenbergia. 

Stems  ascending,  much  branched,  growing  from  two  to  four  feet 
high.  Panicles  contracted,  many-flowered  ;  glumes  nearly  equal  in 
length,  bristle-pointed  ;  flowering  glume  with  an  awn  from  the  tip 
two  or  three  times  as  long  as  the  spikelet. 

Grows  in  drier  places  than  the  preceding,  and  flowers  in  August 
or  September. 

Genus  BRACK YELYTRUM,   Beauvois. 
Brach-y-e-ly'-trum . 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  brachys,  short,  and  elytron,  a  covering; 
in  allusion  to  the  short  glumes.  Spikelets  one-flowered,  with  a  con- 
spicuous club-shaped  body  half  as  long  as  the  palea  arising  on  one 
side.  Glumes  very  small,  unequal  in  length,  the  lower  almost  obso- 
lete ;  flowering  glume  five-nerved  and  ending  in  an  awn  which  is 
twice  as  long  as  the  flower;  palea  equal  to  the  flowering  glume  in 
length.  Stamens  two. 

15.     BRACHYELYTRUM  ARISTATUM,  Beauvois. 
Brach-y-e-ly'-trum  a-ris-ta' -turn . 

Common  Names.     Awned  Brachyelytrum. 

Stem  simple,  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  clothed  with  fine  hair 
about  the  joints  ;  leaves  six  inches  long  and  from  four  to  six  lines 
wide,  somewhat  hairy.  Panicle  erect. 

Common  in  rocky  woods.     Flowers  in  June  and  July. 


26  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

Genus  DEYEUXIA,  Clarion. 
Dey-eux'-i-a. 

S pikelets  one-flowered,  in  a  contracted  or  open  panicle.  Glumes 
nearly  equal  in  length,  keeled,  but  without  an  awn  ;  flowering  glume 
hairy  at  the  base,  nearly  as  long  as  the  lower  glume  and  usually 
with  a  short,  fine  awn  from  the  back,  which  is  scarcely  distinguish- 
able from  the  hairs.  Stamens  three.  There  is  also  a  small,  hairy 
appendage  at  the  base  of  the  flowering  glume,  which  is  considered 
to  be  the  rudiment  of  a  second  flower.  Calaraagrostis  of  the  older 
books. 

16.     DEYEUXIA  CANADENSIS,  Beauvois. 

Dey-eux'-i-a    Can-a-den-sis. 

PLATE  IX. 

Common  Names.  Blue  Joint-Grass,  Small  Reed-Grass,  Can- 
adian Small-Reed. 

Stem  erect,  from  three  to  five  feet  high ;  leaves  a  foot  or  more 
long  and  from  a  quarter  to  nearly  half  an  inch  wide.  Panicle  open 
and  somewhat  spreading,  from  four  to  six  inches  or  more  long  and 
from  two  to  three  inches  in  diameter,  generally  of  a  purplish  color. 
The  spikelets  are  on  short  stalks ;  glumes  nearly  equal  in  length, 
acute  and  awnless  ;  flowering  glume  with  long  white  hairs  from  the 
base  and  also  from  the  appendage,  which  reach  nearty  to  the  end, 
and  there  is  a  fine,  inconspicuous  awn  arising  from  the  back  which 
only  reaches  as  far  as  the  apex.  The  palea  is  about  two-thirds  as 
long  as  the  flowering  glumes.  Very  common  in  wet  places,  and 
flowers  in  August. 

This  grass  is  deserving  of  more  attention  than  it  has  generally 
received  from  the  farmers  in  Maine.  It  is  greedily  eaten  by  stock 
in  the  winter,  and  is  thought,  by  those  who  have  used  it  most,  to  be 
as  nutritious  as  Timothy.  A  chemical  analysis  of  this  species  cut 
in  Massachusetts,  when  in  blossom,  by  Prof.  Storer  of  the  Bussey 
Institution,  gave  ash  4.65,  fat  2.33,  nitrogen-free  extract,  41.23, 
crude  fiber  44.34,  albuminoids  7.45.  This  analysis  certainly  prom- 
ises quite  as  much  for  this  grass  as  has  been  claimed  for  it  by  those 
who  have  cut  it  for  hay  and  fed  it  to  their  stock. 

It  seems  to  be  a  very  desirable  grass  to  grow  on  wet,  boggy  lands 
which  are  not  drained. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  27 

Genus  AMMOPHILA,  Host. 
Am-moph'-i-la. 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  ammos,  sand,  and  pliilos,  a  lover ;  in 
allusion  to  its  growing  on  sandjr  beaches. 

Flowers  arranged  in  a  dense,  cj'lindrical,  spiked  panicle.  Glumes 
nearly  equal  and  keeled.  Flowering  glume  and  palea  somewhat 
shorter  than  the  outer  glumes,  keeled  and  awnless.  The  base  of 
the  flowering  glume  is  beset  with  short  hairs  at  the  base.  Leaves 
rolled  up  from  their  edges  (convolute) . 

17.     AMMOPHILA  ARUNDINACEA,  Host. 
Am-moph'-i-la   a-run-di-nd -ce-a . 

Common  Names.  Sea  Sand-Reed,  Common  Sea-Reed,  Beach 
Grass,  Mat  Grass. 

This  is  named  Calamagrostis  arenaria.  Roth.,  in  the  older  books, 

Stems  erect,  rigid  and  solid,  from  two  to  three  feet  high ;  leaves 
long  and  smooth,  tapering  to  a  point  and  with  their  edges  rolled  in. 
Panicle  from  six  to  twelve  inches  long,  of  a  whitish  color,  very  close 
and  spike-like.  Spikelets  very  much  compressed,  about  half  an 
inch  long ;  glumes  nearly  equal  in  length,  the  lower  one  with  a  sin- 
gle nerve,  the  upper  with  three  nerves.  Flowering  glume  and  palea 
similar  to  the  outer  glumes,  but  slightly  shorter,  the  hairs  at  the 
base  less  than  one- third  of  their  length.  Anthers  long  and  yellow. 

Common  on  sandy  beaches  along  the  coast.  Flowers  in  August. 
Its  long  creeping  root-stocks  and  fibrous  roots  enable  it  to  confine 
the  loose  sands  of  the  beach  from  being  washed  away  by  the  sea, 
and  it  has  been  planted  for  this  purpose  in  Holland,  France  and 
other  countries  of  Europe,  as  well  as  on  Cape  Cod  and  other  places 
in  this  country.  It  is  of  no  value  as  a  fodder. 

Genus  ORYZOPSIS,  Michaux. 
O-ry-zop'-sis. 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  oryza,  rice,  and  opsis,  resemblance ; 
because  of  its  resemblance  to  rice. 

Spikelets  one-flowered  ;  glumes  equal  in  length,  partly  membra- 
naceous  and  without  awns.  Flowering  glume  generally  awned  at  the 
tip  ;  palea  nearly  of  the  same  length  as  the  flowering  glume.  Three 


28  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

long  scales  arise  from  the  base  of  the  ovary.  Two  species  belong- 
ing to  this  genus  occur  in  this  State  and  ma}'  be  distinguished  as 
follows  : 

Awn  about  twice  the  length  of  the  glumes 0.  asperi folia. 

Awn  ven^  short  or  wanting 0.  Canadensis. 


18.     ORYZOPSIS  ASPERIFOLIA,   MICHAUX. 
O-ry-zop'-sis    as-per- i-fo'-li-a. 

Common  Names.  White  Mountain-Rice,  Large  White-Grained 
Mountain-Rice. 

Stems  erect,  from  nine  to  eighteen  inches  high  with  sheaths  bear- 
ing only  rudimentary  leaves  on  the  upper  part  of  the  stem,  those 
from  the  base  bearing  long  and  rigid  leaves  which  are  rough  on  the 
edges,  pale  beneath  and  lasting  through  the  winter.  The  panicle 
or  raceme  has  but  few  flowers.  The  awn  arising  from  the  tip  of 
the  flowering  glume  is  from  two  to  three  times  as  long  as  the  glume. 
The  scales  arising  from  the  base  of  the  grain  are  narrow  and  almost 
as  long  as  the  palea.  "The  large  seeds  make  a  very  white  and  fine 
flour,  but  the  grain  drops  so  easily  that  it  is  impracticable  to  gather 
it  in  large  quantities."  Flint. 

Common  in  dry  woods,  and  flowers  in  June. 

19.     ORYZOPSIS   CANADENSIS,    Torrey. 
O-ry-zop'-sis    Can-a-deri-sis. 

Common  Names.     Canadian  Rice,  Smallest  Oryzopsis. 

Stems  slender,  from  six  to  fifteen  inches  high,  the  lowest  sheaths 
bearing  developed  leaves,  the  upper  ones  with  the  leaves  rudimen- 
tary and  all  of  them  have  their  edges  rolled  in  (involute — thread- 
shaped).  Panicle  from  one  to  three  inches  long,  the  branches 
usually  in  pairs.  The  flowering  glume  is  whitish  and  clothed  with 
fine,  short  hairs,  and  the  awn  at  the  tip  is  short,  easily  falls  off,  and 
is  sometimes  wanting. 

This  rare  species  grows  on  rocky  hill-sides  and  in  dry  places,  and 
flowers  in  June. 

Nothing  is  known  of  the  value  of  this  grass. 


THE   GRASSES   OP   MAINE.  29 

Genus   STIPA,    Linneus. 


From  the  Greek,  stupe,  a  featheiy  material,  in  allusion  to  some 
of  the  beautifully  feathered  awns  in  some  of  the  species. 

Spikelets  one-flowered.  Glumes  membranaceous.  shorter  than 
the  flowering  glume,  and  without  awns  :  flowering  glume  somewhat 
coriaceous  or  leathery,  with  a  long,  twisted  awn  at  its  apex.  Sta- 
mens mostly  three.  Only  one  species  has  thus  far  been  reported  in 
this  State. 

20.     STIPA   RICHARDSONII,    Link. 

Sti'-pa    Iticli-ard-so'-ni-i. 

Common  Name.     Richardson's  Feather. 

Stern  erect,  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  high  ;  leaves  slender. 
Panicle  loose,  from  four  to  five  inches  long,  with  slender,  few- 
flowered  branches  ;  glumes  nearly  equal  in  length,  oblong  acute, 
two  and  one-half  lines  long,  about  equal  in  length  to  the  pubescent, 
linear-oblong  flowering  glume,  which  bears  a  twisted  awn  from  half 
to  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long.  Reported  by  C.  J.  Sprague  as 
occurring  on  Pleasant  Mountain,  near  Sebago  Lake. 

This  grass  is  said  to  be  worthless  as  a  forage  plant. 

Genus   SPARTINA,    Schreber. 
Spar-ti'-na. 

From  the  Greek,  spartine,  a  cord;  in  allusion  to  the  cord-like 
appearance  of  these  grasses. 

Panicle  composed  of  several  separate,  triangular  spikes,  along 
one  side  of  which  the  one-flowered  spikelets  are  arranged.  Glumes 
strongly  compressed,  with  a  rough,  bristly  keel,  unequal  in  length 
and  without  awns;  flowering  glume  membranaceous,  compressed, 
keeled  but  without  an  awn  ;  palea  nearly  as  long  as  the  flowering 
glume,  and  with  two  keels. 

Three  species  are  reported  in  this  State,  which  may  be  separated 
as  follows  : 

(  Spikelets  closely  overlapping  each  other  and  veiy  rough  on 
,   I      the  keels  ................................  ".  ........    2 

1  Spikelets  scarcely   overlapping    and    nearly  smooth   on  the 
t     keels  .........  "  ......................  .*  ......  S.  stricta. 


30  THE    GRASSES    OF  MAINE. 


f  Leaves  rough  along  the  edges S.  cynosuroides. 

1  Leaves  smooth  along  the  edges S.  juncea. 


21.     SPAKTINA   CYNOSUROIDES,    Willdenow. 
Spar-ti'-na  cyn-os-u-roi'-des. 

Common  Names.     Fresh  Water  Cord-Grass,  Tall  Marsh  Grass. 

Stems  erect,  from  two  to  five  feet  high ;  leaves  long,  and  tapering 
to  a  slender  point.  The  spikes  vary  in  number  from  five  to  twenty, 
scattered  and  spreading.  Spikelets  close!}7  overlapping  each  other. 
Glumes  with  long,  rigid,  awn-like  points,  the  lower  one  equalling  the 
length  of  the  flowering  glume. 

This  species  grows  along  the  banks  of  rivers  and  lakes,  flowering 
in  August. 

Spartina  polystachya,  Willd.,  Salt  Reed-Grass,  is  given  in  the 
List  of  Maine  Plants  published  in  1862,  but  there  may  be  some  mis- 
take about  this  species.  This  grass  has  the  stem  tall  and  stout, 
from  four  to  nine  feet  high  and  sometimes  an  inch  in  diameter  at 
the  base.  The  leaves  are  broad  and  roughish  underneath  as  well 
as  on  the  margins  ;  spikes  from  twenty  to  fifty,  forming  a  dense  ob- 
long and  purplish  raceme  ;  glumes  barely  mucronate,  the  lower  one 
half  as  long  as  the  flowering  glume.  Grows  on  salt  or  brackish 
marshes,  within  tide-water. 

These  are  coarse  grasses  and  make  a  very  inferior  quality  of  hay, 
especially  if  not  cut  early. 

22.     SPARTINA   JUNCEA,    Willdenow. 

Spar-ti'-na  jun'-ce-a. 

PLATE    X. 

Common  Names.     Rush  Salt-Grass,  Marsh  Grass,  Salt  Grass. 

Stems  slender,  from  one  to  two  feet  high ;  leaves  narrow,  very 
smooth  and  strongly  involute  (the  edges  rolled  in) .  Spikes  from 
one  to  five,  on  very  short  stems.  Glumes  acute,  the  lower  one 
scarcely  half  the  length  of  the  upper,  and  not  half  the  length  of  the 
flowering  glume. 

This  grows  on  salt  marshes  and  sea  beaches,  and  flowers  in  Au- 
gust. It  forms  a  large  portion  of  the  salt  marshes  near  the  sea- 
coast.  Dr.  Vasey  says  it  makes  an  inferior  hay  called  salt  hay, 
which  is  worth  about  half  as  much  per  ton  as  Timothy  or  Red-Top. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  31 

23.     SPARTINA   STRICTA,    Roth. 
Spar-ti' -na  stric'-ta. 

Common  Names.     Salt  Marsh  Grass,  Smooth  Marsh  Grass. 

Stems  erect,  from  one  to  four  feet  high,  leafy  to  the  top.  Spikes 
from  two  to  four  except  in  variet}'  glabra,  which  has  from  five  to 
twelve.  S pikelets  loosely  imbricated,  or  remote  in  variety  altemi- 
flora.  Glumes  acute,  very  unequal  in  length,  the  larger  one  a  little 
longer  than  the  flowering  glume. 

Common  on  salt  marshes.     Odor  strong  and  rancid  (Gray) . 

This  species  is  greedily  eaten  by  horses  and  cattle,  but  its  strong 
rancid  smell  is  said  by  Elliot  to  affect  the  breath,  milk,  butter,  and 
even  the  flesh  of  the  cattle  that  feed  on  it. 

Genus  CYNODON,  Richard. 
Cyri-o-don. 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  Ituon,  a  dog,  and  odous,  a  tooth. 

Spikelets  without  steins  and  arranged  in  two  rows  along  one  side 
of  the  slender  spikes  which  are  digitate  (starting  from  one  point) , 
at  the  end  of  the  stem.  The  spikelets  are  one-flowered  but  with  the 
rudiments  of  another,  in  the  form  of  a  minute  stem  enlarged  at  the 
end,  arising  behind  the  palea  and  two-thirds  as  long. 

24.     CYNODON  DACTYLON,  Persoon. 
Cyri-o-don   dac'-tyl-on. 
PLATE  XI. 

Common  Names.     Bermuda  Grass,  Scutch  Grass. 

A  low,  creeping,  perennial  grass,  with  abundant  short  leaves  at  the 
base  and  with  from  three  to  five  spikes.  Glumes  nearly  equal  in 
length  and  keeled  ;  the  flowering  glume  is  boat-shaped,  about  equal 
in  length  to  the  palea  but  much  broader.  The  palea  is  narrow  and 
two-keeled. 

This  grass,  so  common  in  the  South,  is  occasionally  met  with  in 
Maine.  Dr.  Vasey  says  it  has  long  been  a  chief  reliance  for  past- 
ures in  the  Southern  States,  and  has  been  extravagantly  praised  by 
some  and  cursed  by  others  who  find  it  difficult  to  eradicate  when 
once  established.  It  rarely  ripens  any  seed,  and  the  usual  method 
of  reproducing  it  is  to  chop  up  the  roots  with  a  cutting  knife,  sow 


32  THE   GRASSES   OF   MAINE. 

them  broadcast,  and  plow  under  shallow.  An  analysis  made  at  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  of  specimens  from  Alabama,  gave  ash 
9.11,  fat  1.57,  nitrogen-free  extract  52.61,  crude  fiber  23.29,  albumi- 
noids 13.42. 

Genus  GRAPHEPHORUM,  Desvaux. 
Graph-eph'-o-rum . 

From  the  Greek,  graphis,  a  pencil,  and  /ero,  to  bear,  from  the 
tufts  of  hair  at  the  base  of  the  flowers. 

Spikelets  from  two  to  five-flowered,  in  a  narrow  or  loose  panicle. 
Glume  nearly  as  long  as  the  spikelet ;  flowering  glume  slightly 
longer  and  larger  than  the  palea.  A  tuft  of  fine  hairs  arises  from 
the  base  of  each  flower. 


25.     GRAPHEPHORUM  MELICOIDES,  Beauvois. 
Graph-eph'-o-rum  mel-i-cot-des. 

Stem  from  one  to  two  feet  high ;  leaves  rough  ;  panicle  open 
Glumes  nearly  equal  in  length,  lance-shaped,  their  midrib  and  stems 
rough  ;  joints  of  the  rhachis  bearded  on  one  side  between  the  flowers. 

This  rare  species  has  been  reported  from  the  shores  of  Moose- 
head  Lake  by  C.  E.  Smith. 

Genus  DACTYLIS,  Linneus. 
Dac'-ty-lis. 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  dactylos*  a  finger,  in  allusion  to  the  form 
of  the  spike. 

The  spikelets  contain  from  three  to  five  flowers,  and  are  in  dense 
clusters  at  the  ends  of  the  short  branches  of  a  close,  short  panicle. 
Outer  glumes  nearly  equal  in  length,  acute,  rigid  and  keeled,  with 
from  one  to  three  nerves.  Flowering  glumes  larger,  more  rigid, 
keeled,  five-nerved,  bristle-pointed  and  ciliate  on  the  keel.  Palea  a 
little  shorter  than  the  glume,  narrower,  thinner  and  two-keeled. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  33 

26.     DACTYLIS  GLOMERATA,  Linneus. 
Dac'-ty-lis  glom-er-a'-ta. 

PLATE    XII. 

Common  Names.  Orchard  Grass,  Rough  Cock's-foot,  Cock's- 
foot  Grass. 

Stems  erect,  about  three  feet  high,  rough ;  leaves  broadly  linear 
and  rough ;  branches  of  the  panicle  naked  at  the  base.  The  flow- 
ering glumes  are  rough  and  end  in  a  sharp  point  or  short  awn.  They 
are  rather  longer  than  the  outer  glumes  and  both  are  sometimes 
tinged  with  purplish. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  all  our  cultivated  grasses. 
It  blossoms  at  the  same  time  as  red  clover  and  makes  with  it  an 
admirable  hay.  As  a  pasture  grass,  it  is  more  productive  than  any 
other,  but  does  the  best  under  close  feeding,  because  when  suffered 
to  grow  rank  or  old  it  contains  far  less  nutriment  then  when  younger, 
and  cattle,  sheep  and  horses  will  not  touch  it,  though  when  it  is 
younger  they  eat  it  with  the  greatest  avidity.  It  is  disposed  to 
grow  in  tussocks,  but  good  preparation  of  the  land  and  uniform  and 
liberal  seeding  is  a  good  preventive.  It  succeeds  well  in  any  soil, 
doing  especially  well  in  moist  places,  and  is  often  sown  in  orchards 
because  it  grows  so  well  even  in  the  shade  of  trees. 

It  is  singular  that  so  valuable  a  grass  as  this  should  be  so  little 
cultivated  by  our  farmers.  Prof.  Phares  says  that  sheep  will  leave 
all  other  grasses  if  they  can  find  this,  and,  acre  for  acre,  it  will  sus- 
tain twice  as  many  sheep  or  other  stock  as  Timothy ;  and,  further, 
if  it  is  cut  at  the  proper  stage  it  makes  a  much  better  hay  than 
Timothy,  and  is  greatly  preferred  by  animals,  being* easier  to  masti- 
cate, digest  and  assimilate  ;  in  fact,  more  like  green  grass  in  flavor, 
tenderness  and  solubility.  Orchard  grass  is  considered  in  England 
one  of  the  most  valuable  of  hay  and  pasture  grasses.  It  forms  a 
principal  constituent  of  all  the  best  natural  pastures  and  meadows. 

Specimens  of  this  grass  cut  in  full  bloom  in  Washington,  and 
analyzed  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  gave  ash  8.07,  fat  3.24, 
nitrogen-free  extract  53.76,  crude  fiber  25.40,  albuminoids  9.53. 


34  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

Genus  GLYCERIA,  R.  Brown. 

Gly-ce'-ri-a. 

From  the  Greek,  glukeros,  sweet,  in  allusion  to  the  sweetish  taste 
of  the  grain. 

Spikelets  cylindrical  (terete)  or  flattened,  several  to  many-flowered 
in  a  narrow  or  diffuse  panicle,  the  rhachis  smooth  and  readil}'  dis- 
articulating between  the  flowers.  Glumes  shorter  than  the  flowers, 
unequal  in  length,  membranaceous,  from  one  to  three-nerved  and 
without  awns  ;  flowering  glumes  obtuse,  awnless,  more  or  less  hyaline 
and  denticulate  at  the  apex,  rounded  (never  keeled)  on  the  back, 
from  five  to  nine-nerved,  the  nerves  separate  and  all  vanishing 
before  reaching  the  apex ;  palea  about  as  long  as  its  glume,  two- 
keeled,  entire  or  two- toothed  at  the  apex. 

The  Maine  species  may  be  separated  by  means  of  the  following 
table : 

f  Leaves   involute    (the   edges   rolled   in)  ;    growing   in   salt 

1  4      marshes G.  marithna. 

[  Leaves  flat ;  not  growing  in  salt  places 2 

2  f  Spikelets  ovate,  oblong  or  linear-oblong 4 

(  Spikelets  long  and  narrow   3 

(  Flowering  glume  obtuse,  rather  longer  than  the  palea 

3  -j  G.  fluitans. 
(  Flowering  glume  acute,  shorter  than  the  palea,  G.  acutiftora. 


.  (  Panicle  open  and  spreading. 
(  Panicle  long  and  slim 


g  (  Spikelets  three  or  four-flowered G.  elongata. 

\  Spikelets  six  or  seven-flowered G .  obtusa. 

(  Flowering   glume   acute   or   blunt-pointed,  longer  than   the 

6  ?      rounded  palea  . G.  Canadensis. 

(  Flowering  glume  truncate-obtuse  ;  palea  two-toothed 7 

r.  (  Stems  from  three  to  five  feet  high ;  leaves  large,  G.  aquatica. 
\  Stems  from  one  to  three  feet  high  ;  leaves  medium 8 

g  C  Spikelets  numerous,  bright  green   G.  nervata. 

{  Spikelets  usually  few,  pale  green G.  pattida. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

27.     GLYCERIA  CANADENSIS,  Trinius. 
Gly-ce'-ri-a   Can-a-den'-sis. 

PLATE  XIII. 

Common  Names.     Rattlesnake  Grass,  Tall  Quaking  Grass. 

Stems  erect  and  stout,  from  two  to  three  feet  high  ;  leaves  long 
and  somewhat  rough.  Panicle  large,  loose  and  finally  nodding, 
from  six  to  nine  inches  long.  Spikelets  oblong  to  ovate,  one-sixth 
of  an  inch  long,  rather  swollen  but  flattened  on  the  sides,  from  six 
to  eight-flowered.  Glumes  shorter  than  the  flowers  and  purplish ; 
flowering  glume  somewhat  longer  than  the  rounded  palea. 

This  species  grows  in  wet  meadows  and  swamps,  and  flowers  in 
July.  Hon.  J.  S.  Gould  says  that  cattle  eat  it  very  well  in  pas- 
ture and  when  made  into  hay.  It  is  well  adapted  to  low,  wet  lands.' 

28.     GLYCERIA   OBTUSA,    Trinius. 
Gly-ce'-ri-a  ob-tu-sa. 

Common  Name.     Obtuse  Spear  Grass. 

Stems  stout  and  erect,  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  very  leafy  ; 
leaves  long  and  smooth.  Panicle  narrowly  oblong  and  dense,  from 
three  to  five  inches  long;  spikelets  from  six  to  seven-flowered, 
nearly  one-fourth  of  an  inch  long  ;  flowering  glume  obtuse. 

Grows  in  bogs  near  the  coast,  and  flowers  in  August. 

29.     GLYCERIA   ELONGATA,   Trinius. 

Gly-ce'-ri-a  e-lon-ga'-ta. 
Common  Name.     Long-Panicled  Manna-Grass. 

Stems  erect,  simple,  fiom  three  to  four  feet  high ;  leaves  about 
one  foot  long}  somewhat  rough.  Panicle  elongated,  nearly  a  foot 
long  and  nodding,  appressed  ;  flowering  glume  obtuse. 

Grows  in  wet  woods  and  swamps.     Flowers  in  July. 


36  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

30.     GLYCERIA   NERVATA,   Trinius. 

Gly-ce'-ri-a  ner-va'-ta. 

PLATE  XIV. 

Common  Names.  Nerved  Meadow  Grass,  Nerved  Manna- 
Grass.  Sometimes  called  Fowl  Meadow  Grass,  but  this  name  should 
only  be  given  to  Poa  serotina. 

Stems  erect,  from  three  to  four  feet  high ;  leaves  rather  long. 
Panicle  diffuse  and  at  length  drooping,  the  very  numerous  small 
spikelets  ovate-oblong,  from  three  to  seven-flowered.  Flowering 
glume  truncate-obtuse,  strongly  seven-nerved  ;  palea  with  two  teeth 
at  the  apex. 

Common  on  the  margin  of  ponds  and  in  wet  meadows.  Flowers 
in  Jury. 

This  will  undoubtedly  prove  a  valuable  grass  for  moist  ground, 
and  is  said  to  succeed  well  on  light  upland  soils  also.  It  is  nutri- 
tious and  might  be  advantageously  mixed  with  other  grasses  in  low 
lands. 

An  analysis  of  this  grass  made  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
from  specimens  cut  in  New  Hampshire,  gave  the  following  percent- 
ages. Ash  6.80,  fat  2.91,  nitrogen-free  extract  60.01,  crude  fiber 
21.97,  albuminoids  8.31. 


31.      GLYCERIA   PALLIDA,    Trinius. 
Gly-ce'-ri-a  pal'-li-da. 

Common  Name.     Pale  Manna-Grass. 

Stems  slender,  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  ascending  from  a 
creeping  base  in  shallow  water ;  leaves  short,  sharp-pointed  and 
pale.  Branches  of  the  rather  simple  diffuse  panicle  erect,  spread- 
ing and  rough ;  spikelets  few,  from  five  to  nine-flowered  and  pale  ; 
flowering  glume  minutely  five-toothed,  the  palea  lance-shaped,  con- 
spicuously two-toothed. 

This  common  species  flowers  in  July.  The  seeds  are  gathered  in 
Holland  as  an  article  of  food. 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  37 

32.     GLYCERIA   AQUATICA,    Smith. 

Gly-ce'-ri-a  a-quatf-i-ca. 

PLATE  XV. 

Common  Names.     Reed  Meadow  Grass,  White  Spear  Grass. 

Stems  erect  and  stout,  from  three  to  five  feet  high ;  leaves  a  foot 
or  more  long  and  often  half  an  inch  wide.  Panicle  much  branched, 
from  eight  to  fifteen  inches  long,  the  numerous  branches  ascending 
and  spreading  with  age  ;  spikelets  oblong,  from  five  to  nine-flowered, 
usually  purplish  ;  flowering  glume  entire  and  obtuse. 

Common  in  wet  grounds.     Flowers  in  July. 

It  is  said  that  this  grass  is  liked  by  cattle  when  made  into  hay. 

Specimens  from  Vermont  were  analyzed  at  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  gave  ash  7.30,  fat  2.20,  nitrogen-free  extract  56.77, 
crude  fiber  25.60,  albuminoids  8.13. 

33.     GLYCERIA  FLUITANS,  R.  Brown. 
Gty-ce'-ria  flu'-i-tans. 

Common  Names.    Floating  Manna  Grass,  Common  Manna  Grass. 

Stems  erect  or  ascending,  compressed,  from  three  to  five  feet 
high ;  leaves  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  long,  smooth  and  often 
floating  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  when  young.  Panicle  con- 
tracted, from  eight  to  twelve  inches  long,  the  lower  part  somewhat 
concealed  by  the  sheath  of  the  upper  leaf.  Spikelets  from  seven  to 
thirteen-flowered  ;  flowering  glume  oblong,  obtuse,  or  the  scarious 
tip  somewhat  acutish,  entire  or  obscurely  three-lobed,  usually  rather 
longer  than  the  blunt  palea. 

Common  in  shallow  water  on  the  margins  of  ponds  and  rivers. 
Flowers  from  June  to  August.  It  is  said  that  this  grass  will  bear 
cultivation  in  moderately  dry  grounds.  There  is  great  difference 
of  opinion  with  respect  to  the  value  of  this  grass  ;  some  state  that  it 
is  relished  by  cattle,  while  others  deny  this.  It  is  evident  that  there 
is  need  of  more  careful  observation  and  experiment  before  we  can 
form  opinions  of  its  value. 


38  THE    GRASSES    OP   MAINE. 

34.     GLYCERIA  ACUTIFLORA,  Torrey. 
Gly-ce'-ria  a-cy-ti-flo'-ra. 

Common  Names.  Pointed  Spear-Grass,  Sharp-Flowered  Manna- 
Grass. 

Stems  erect,  somewhat  compressed,  about  a  foot  and  a  half  high ; 
leaves  from  three  to  six  inches  long.  Panicle  long  and  narrow ; 
spikelets  from  five  to  twelve-flowered,  few  and  scattered  ;  flowering 
glume  oblong-lanceolate,  acute,  shorter  than  the  long,  tapering  point 
of  the  palea. 

This  rare  species  grows  in  wet  places,  and  flowers  in  June. 

35.     GLYCERIA  MARITIMA,  Wahlenberg. 
Oly-ce'-ri-a  ma-rit'-i-ma. 

Common  Name.     Sea  Spear  Grass. 

Flowering  stems  erect,  from  a  foot  to  a  foot  and  a  half  high,  the  sterile 
shoots  runner-like  ;  leaves  mostly  folded  and  compressed  ;  branches 
of  the  panicle  solitary  or  in  pairs.  Spikelets  oblong  or  linear,  from 
four  to  eight-flowered  ;  flowering  glume  rounded  at  the  upper  end, 
slightly  hairy  at  the  base. 

Common  on  salt  marshes  along  the  coast.     Flowers  in  July. 

Genus  DISTICHLIS,  Rafiuesque. 
Dis-ticli -Us . 

Derived  from  the  Greek,  distichos,  two  rows,  in  allusion  to  the 
arrangement  of  the  flowers  on  the  spike.  Spikelets  dioecious,  many- 
flowered,  compressed,  crowded  in  a  dense  spicate,  capitate,  or  rather 
open  panicle  ;  glumes  herbaceous  and  narrow,  keeled,  acute,  shorter 
than  the  flowers  ;  flowering  glume  herbaceous  or  membranaceous, 
keeled,  many-nerved,  acute  ;  palea  complicate,  two-keeled,  the  keels 
narrowly  winged.  The  pistillate  flowers  are  more  rigid  than  the 
staminate. 

36.     DISTICHLIS  MARITIMA,  Rafinesque. 
Dis-tich'-lis    ma-rit'-i-ma. 

PLATE   XVI. 

Common  Names.     Spike  Grass,  Salt  Grass,  Marsh  Grass. 
This  is  described  as  Brizopyrum  spicatum,  Hook,   in  the  older 
books. 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  39 

Stems  tufted  from  creeping  root-stocks,  from  nine  to  eighteen 
inches  high.  Spike  oblong,  flattened,  one  inch  long  ;  spikelets  ovate 
or  oblong,  from  five  to  ten-flowered  ;  the  flowers  smooth  and  naked  ; 
grain  pointed. 

Grows  on  salt  marshes  and  beaches.     Flowers  in  August. 

Plate  16  represents  this  species,  a,  the  glumes  ;  b,  the  staminate 
or  male  flower,  showing  the  flowering  glume  and  palea  separated  at 
the  top  and  exposing  the  three  stamens ;  c,  represents  the  pistillate 
or  female  flower. 

Dr.  Vasey  says  that  it  cannot  be  considered  a  first-rate  grass  for 
agricultural  purposes. 

Genus  POA,  Linneus. 
Po'-a. 

From  the  Greek,  poa,  a  grass. 

Spikelets  somewhat  compressed,  from  two  to  ten-flowered,  in  an 
open  panicle ;  flowers  generally  perfect ;  glumes  commonly  shorter 
than  the  flowers,  the  lower  one  somewhat  smaller  than  the  other ; 
flowering  glume  membranaceous  with  a  scarious  margin,  com- 
pressed, keeled,  pointless,  five-nerved,  often  with  a  loose  or  webby 
mass  of  hair  at  the  base  ;  palea  about  the  same  length  as  the  flower- 
ing glume,  prominently  two-nerved  or  two-keeled.  Stems  tufted. 

Five  species  of  Poa  are  known  in  this  State,  and  may  be  sepa- 
rated by  means  of  the  following  table  : 

.  (  Joints  of  the  stem  circular  .      .     2 

|  Joints  of  the  stem  flattened  or  compressed   ...  P.  compressa. 

2  f  Stems  low,  not  over  ten  inches  high 3 

{  Stems  from  one  to  three  feet  high 4 

„  j"  Mountain  species  ;  perennial   P.  laxa. 

(  Not  growing  on  high  mountains  ;  annual P.  annua. 

.  (  Panicle  elongated,  purplish ;  ligule  long P.  serotina. 

\  Panicle  short  pyramidal ;  ligule  short  and  blunt .    P.  pratensis. 

37.     POA   ANNUA,    Linneus. 
Po'-a  ari-nu-a. 

Common  Names.  Annual  Spear  Grass,  Low  Spear  Grass, 
Suffolk  Grass. 

Stems  low  and  spreading,  from  three  to  eight  inches  high,  from 
an  annual  or  biennial  root ;  leaves  pale  green  and  tender.  Panicle 


40  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

often  one-sided,  branches  single  or  in  pairs ;  spikelets  crowded, 
very  short  pediceled,  from  three  to  seven-flowered.  Common  in 
fields  and  waste  grounds.  Flowers  from  June  to  September.  It  is 
very  nutritious  but  too  small  to  be  cultivated  with  profit. 

38.     POA  COMPRESS  A,  Linneus. 
Po'-a  com-pres'-sa. 

PLATE   XVII. 

Common  Names.     Wire  Grass,  Flat-Stalked  Grass,  Blue  Grass. 

Stems  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high,  bent  at  the  lower  joints, 
arising  from  a  running  root-stock.  The  stems  are  very  much  flattened, 
especially  the  nodes,  which  character  suggested  the  specific  name. 
Leaves  short  and  of  a  dark  bluish  color ;  panicle  simple,  contracted 
and  somewhat  one-sided,  from  one  to  three  inches  long,  the  short 
branches  mostly  in  pairs.  Spikelets  almost  sessile,  from  three  to 
ten-flowered  and  much  flattened.  The  outer  glumes  are  acute,  the 
flowering  ones  obtuse,  smooth,  the  nerves  obscure  and  the  apex 
frequently  purplish  colored.  It  forms  a  very  firm  turf  by  means  of 
its  creeping  root-stocks. 

Common  in  fields  and  waste  places.     Flowers  in  June  and  July. 

Various  opinions  are  held  as  to  the  value  of  this  grass.  Hon.  J. 
S.  Gould  says  that  cows  fed  upon  it,  both  in  pasture  and  in  hay, 
give  more  milk  and  keep  in  better  condition  than  when  fed  on  any 
other  grass,  and  that  horses  fed  on  this  hay  will  do  as  well  as  when 
fed  on  Timothy  and  oats  combined.  Although  it  does  not  grow  very 
high  and  yields  scarcely  more  than  a  ton  to  the  acre,  yet,  if  the 
claims  made  for  it  by  Mr.  Gould  prove  true,  it  should  certainly 
command  the  attention  of  our  farmers,  not  only  for  field  culture,  but 
also  for  the  pastures. 

The  analysis  of  this  grass  grown  in  Washington,  gave  the  follow- 
ing results  :  Ash  6.08,  fat  4.52,  nitrogen-free  extract,  58.18,  crude 
fiber  18.53,  albuminoids  12.69. 

39.     POA  LAXA,  Hsenke. 
Po'-a  latf-a. 

Common  Name.     Few-Flowered  Alpine  Meadow  Grass. 
Stems  slender,  erect,  from  six  to  eight  inches  high ;  leaves  numer- 
ous, narrow.     Panicle  somewhat  raceme-like,  often  one-sided  and 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  41 

nodding;  spikelets  from  two  to  four-flowered,  the  flowers  acute, 
hairy  and  somewhat  webbed  at  the  base. 

This  species  occurs  on  the  tops  of  the  higher  mountains,  and 
flowers  in  August. 

Poa  alpina,  L.,  has  been  reported  from  Northern  Maine  with 
doubt. 

40.  POA  SEROTINA,  Ehrhart. 

Po'-a  se-rotf-i-na. 
PLATE  xvm. 

Common  Names.  Fowl  Meadow  Grass,  False  Red-Top,  Duck 
Grass,  Swamp  Wire  Grass. 

Stems  from  two  to  three  feet  high ;  leaves  flat,  from  three  to  six 
inches  long  ;  ligule  elongated  ;  panicle  from  six  to  ten  inches  long, 
the  branches  rough  and  flexuous.  Spikelets  from  two  to  four- 
flowered,  often  tinged  with  dull  purple  ;  flowers  and  glumes  narrow  ; 
flowering  glume  very  obscurely  nerved. 

Wet  meadows  and  along  the  border  of  streams.  Flowers  in  July 
and  August. 

This  grass  will  grow  on  almost  ever}'  kind  of  soil,  but  it  attains 
the  greatest  perfection  in  a  rich,  moist  one.  It  never  grows  so  coarse 
or  hard  but  that  the  stalk  is  sweet  and  tender,  and  eaten  withou  t 
waste.  It  is  easily  made  into  hay  and  is  a  nutritive  and  valuable 
grass. 

Specimens  from  Wisconsin  were  analyzed  at  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  gave,  ash  4. 23,  fat  2.84,  nitrogen-free  extract,  65.81, 
crude  fiber  20.85,  albuminoids  6.27. 

41.  POA  PRATENSIS,  Linneus. 

Po'a  pra-ten'-sis. 
PLATE  XIX. 

Common  Names.  Kentucky  Blue-Grass,  Green  or  Common 
Meadow  Grass,  Smooth-Stalked  Meadow  Grass,  June  Grass,  Brown 
Top. 

Stems  erect,  Irom  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet  high,  sending  out 
numerous  root-stocks  from  the  base.  Panicle  diffuse,  p}Tramidal ; 
spikelets  from  three  to  five-flowered ;  flowering  glume  five-nerved, 
hairy  along  the  margins  and  on  the  keel,  webbed  at  the  base. 


42  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

Common  in  fields  everywhere.     Flowers  in  July. 

This  grass  has  gained  an  almost  unparalleled  reputation  in  the 
West,  especially  in  Kentucky,  where  it  has  given  name  to  a  whole 
section  of  the  State — the  blue-grass  region — and  has  taken  one  of 
its  common  names  from  that  State.  Whatever  ma}^  be  its  value 
and  importance  there,  it  surely  has  no  such  reputation  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  especially  in  Maine.  For  field  culture,  the  37ield  per  acre 
is  much  less  than  many  other  species,  and  further,  it  is  attacked  early 
in  the  season  by  a  species  of  thrips  (Limothrips  poaphagus,  Com.), 
a  minute,  orange-colored  insect  which  conceals  itself  beneath  the 
sheath  of  the  upper  leaf  where  it  feeds  on  the  stem  just  above  the 
upper  joint,  completely  killing  the  stern  above,  so  that  by  having 
time  at  least  one- fourth  of  the  grass  is  dead  and  worthless.  It  can- 
not, therefore,  be  advisable  to  cultivate  this  grass  in  Maine.  It 
is  doubtless  a  good  grass  to  mix  with  others  for  lawns. 

Genus  FESTUCA,  Linneus. 
Fes-tu'-ca. 

Latin,  Festuca,  a  straw. 

Spikelets  from  three  to  many-flowered ;  flowers  not  webby  at  the 
base ;  glumes  unequal,  shorter  than  the  flowers,  the  lower  with  one 
nerve,  the  upper  three-nerved,  narrow,  keeled  acute ;  flowering 
glume  membranaceous  or  coriaceous,  narrow,  rounded  on  the  back 
but  not  keeled,  more  or  less  distinctly  three  to  five-nerved,  acute  or 
tapering  into  a  straight  awn,  rarely  obtuse ;  palea  narrow,  flat, 
prominently  two-nerved  or  two-keeled. 

The  three  species  now  known  to  occur  in  Maine  may  be  separated 
by  the  following  table  : 

T  Leaves  broad  and  flat ;  flowers  without  awns.  . .  .   F.  elatior. 

1  -<  Leaves  with  their  edges  more  or  less  rolled  in  ;  flowers  with 

(      awns    2 

2  |  Stems  growing  from  a  dense  tuft  of  leaves F.  ovina. 

\  Stems  not  growing  from  a  dense  tuft  of  leaves   . .   F.  tenella. 

42.     FESTUCA  TENELLA,  Willdenow. 

Fes-tu'-ca  le-nel'-la. 

Common  Name.     Slender  Fescue-Grass. 

Annual ;  stems  slender,  from  five  to  eighteen  inches  high  ;  leaves 
convolute  bristle-form.  Panicle  spike-like,  one-sided  or  more  com- 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  43 

pound  and  open  ;  spikelets  from  seven  to  thirteen-flowered  ;  awns 
equal  to  or  shorter  than  the  flowering  glumes  from  which  they  arise. 
Stamens  two. 
Grows  in  dry,  sterile  soil,  and  flowers  in  July. 


43.     FESTUCA  OVINA,  Linneus. 
Fes-tu'-ca   o-vi'-na. 

PLATE   XX. 

Common  Name.     Sheep's  Fescue. 

Perennial ;  stems  tufted,  erect,  from  six  to  eighteen  inches  high  ; 
leaves  narrow,  sometimes  involute.  Panicle  from  two  to  four  inches 
long,  the  branches  mostlj7  single  and  alternate,  erect  and  few-flow- 
ered ;  spikelets  from  three  to  eight-flowered ;  glumes  acute  and 
narrow ;  flowering  glume  lanceolate,  roughish,  with  a  short,  rough 
awn  not  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  flower,  or  shorter. 

This  species  is  very  variable.     It  flowers  in  July. 

It  is  said  to  form  the  great  bulk  of  the  sheep  pastures  of  the 
highlands  of  Scotland,  where  it  is  the  favorite  food  of  the  sheep  and 
where  it  is  believed  to  be  more  nutritious  than  any  other  grass.  It 
is  also  said  that  the  Tartars  choose  to  encamp  during  the  summer 
months  where  this  grass  is  most  abundant,  because  they  believe  that 
it  affords  the  most  wholesome  food  for  their  grazing  animals,  espe- 
cially their  sheep.  It  naturally  distributes  itself  in  dry,  sandy,  or 
rocky  soils,  where  scarcely  any  other  species  would  grow,  and  is 
without  doubt  our  very  best  grass  for  sandy  or  rocky  pastures,  but 
would  be  of  small  value  for  field  culture  because  of  its  diminutive 
size. 

Specimens  of  this  grass  grown  in  New  Hampshire  and  analyzed 
at  the.  Department  of  Agriculture  in  Washington  gave,  ash  5.03, 
fat  4.26,  nitrogen-free  extract  84.18,  crude  fiber ,  albumi- 
noids 6.53,  while  specimens  grown  in  Washington,  cut  in  full  bloom, 
gave,  ash  5.60,  fat  2.51,  nitrogen-free  extract  58.20,  crude  fiber 
23.79,  albuminoids  9.90. 


44  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

44.     FESTUCA   ELATIOR,    Linneus. 

Fes-tu'-ca  e-la'-ti-or. 

PLATE  xxr. 

Common  Names.     Meadow  Fescue,  Taller  or  Meadow  Fescue. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  from  three  to  five  feet  high ;  leaves 
about  a  foot  long,  sheaths  smooth  and  loose.  Panicle  from  six  to 
eight  inches  long,  erect,  with  short  branches  ;  spikelets  crowded, 
from  five  to  ten-flowered,  the  flowers  rather  remote,  oblong-lanceo- 
late ;  flowering  glume  five-nerved,  either  blunt,  acute,  or  rarely  with 
a  very  short  awn. 

Common  in  grass  lands.  Flowers  in  July ;  earlier  than  Timo- 
thy. 

It  succeeds  best  in  moist,  low  grounds.  Cattle  are  very  fond  of 
it,  both  green  and  when  made  into  ha}'. 

Specimens  from  Pennsylvania  were  analyzed  at  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  in  Washington,  and  gave  ash  8.07,  fat  4.07,  nitrogen- 
free  extract  51.59,  crude  fiber  22.50,  albuminoids  13.7V. 

Genus  BROMUS,  Linneus. 
Bro'-mus. 

From  the  Greek,  bromus,  a  kind  of  oats. 

Spikelets  from  five  to  many-flowered  in  a  more  or  less  open  pani- 
cle ;  glumes  unequal,  shorter  than  the  flowers,  the  lower  from  one 
to  five,  the  upper  from  three  to  nine-nerved  ;  flowering  glume  either 
convex  on  the  back  or  compressed  keeled,  from  five  to  nine-nerved, 
awned  or  bristle  pointed  from  below  the  mostl}7  two-cleft  tip  ;  palea 
rather  shorter  than  the  glumes,  two-keeled,  the  keels  rigid  and 
ciliate. 

Three  species  have  been  observed  in  Maine,  and  may  be  separated 
as  follows : 

Lower  glume  3-5-nerved,  the  upper,  5-9-nerved  . .  B.  secalinus. 
Lower  glume  one-nerved,  the  upper  three-nerved, 

B.  cilialus  and  B.  asper. 


THE    GRASSES    OF  MAINE.  45 

45.     BROMUS  SECALINUS,  Linneus. 

Bro'-mus   se-cat-i-nus. 

PLATE  XXII. 

Common  Names.     Cheat,  Chess,  Willard's  Brorae-Grass. 

Annual.  Steins  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  the  nodes  swollen  and 
covered  with  fine  short  hairs  ;  leaves  broadly  linear,  hairy  above. 
Panicle  spreading,  at  length  nodding,  the  branches  nearly  simple ; 
spikelets  ovate-oblong,  compressed,  smooth,  from  eight  to  twelve- 
flowered  ;  flowering  glume  rather  longer  than  the  palea,  with  a  very 
short  awn  or  awnless. 

A  worthless  plant,  too  common  in  wheat  fields. 

Specimens  raised  in  New  Hampshire  were  analyzed  in  Washing- 
ton, by  Mr.  Richardson,  and  gave  ash  7.12,  fat  4.08,  nitrogen-free 
extract  57.30,  crude  fiber  23.79,  albuminoids  7.71. 


46.     BROMUS  CILIATUS,  Linneus. 
Bro'-mus    cil-i-a'-tus. 

Common  Name.     Fringed  Brome-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  three  to  five  feet  high,  nodes  black ; 
leaves  smoothish  underneath,  hairy  above,  the  lower  sheaths  pubes- 
cent, the  upper  ones  smooth.  Panicle  compound,  very  loose  ;  spike- 
lets  from  seven  to  twelve-flowered  ;  flowering  glume  with  an  awn  at 
the  end  half  its  length  or  more ;  silky  with  closely  lying  hairs  near 
the  margins  below. 

This  grass  grows  along  river  banks  and  in  moist  woods,  and 
flowers  in  July  and  August.  Not  considered  of  any  value  in  culti- 
vation. 

47.     BROMUS   ASPER,  Linneus. 
Bro'-mus    as'-per. 

This  rare  grass  is  reported,  in  Gray's  Manual  of  Botany,  from 
Bethel,  Maine.  It  is  described  as  follows: — Culm  (stem)  slender 
and  panicle  smaller ;  spikelets  five  to  nine-flowered  ;  flowering  glume 
linear  lanceolate,  scarcely  keeled,  hairy  near  the  margins,  rather 
longer  than  the  awn  ;  sheaths  and  lower  leaves  hairy  or  downy. 


46  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

Genus  PHRAGMITES,  Trinius. 
Phrag-mi'-tes. 

From  the  Greek,  phraginitis,  growing  in  hedges. 

Spikelets  from  three  to  seven-flowered,  the  flowers  not  very  close 
to  each  other,  their  stems  being  covered  with  long  silky  threads 
nearly  or  quite  as  long  as  the  flowers  ;  lower  glumes  very  unequal 
in  length  and  the  flowering  glume  is  awl-shaped  and  three  times  as 
long  as  the  upper. 

48.     PHRAGMITES  COMMUNIS,  Trinius. 
Phrag-mi'-tes  com-mu'-nis. 

PLATE  XXIII. 
Common  Name.     Reed. 

Stems  erect,  from  five  to  twelve  feet  high,  and  an  inch  or  more  in 
diameter  at  the  base  ;  leaves  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  long 
and  two  inches  wide.  Panicle  very  large,  loose,  and  somewhat 

nodding  ;  spikelets  from  three  to flowered. 

This  is  our  largest  grass  and  grows  along  the  borders  of  streams 
and  ponds.  Although  found  widely  distributed  over  the  world,  it 
does  not  appear  to  be  very  common  in  Maine.  Flowers  in  August. 
This  grass  is  of  no  value  for  fodder,  but  is  used  in  some  countries  for 
thatching  the  roofs  of  houses,  for  light  fences  and  for  screens. 

Genus  LOLIUM,  Linneus. 
Lo'-li-um. 

The  ancient  Latin  name. 

Spikelets  several-flowered  and  arranged  alternately  at  each  point 
of  the  rhachis  of  the  simple  spike  placed  edgewise  against  the 
rhachis.  Inner  glume  wanting,  except  in  the  upper  spikelet. 

49.     LOLIUM   PERENNE,    Linneus. 
Lo'-li-um  pe-ren'-ne. 

PLATE   XXIV. 

Common  Names.  Rye  Grass,  Ray  Grass,  Common  Darnel, 
Italian  Rye  Grass,  Perennial  Rye  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  from  one  to  two  feet  high.  Glumes 
shorter  than  the  spikelet;  flowers  from  eight  to  twelve  in  each 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  47 

spikelet,  with  or  without  short  awns.     Fields  and  pastures.     Intro- 
duced from  Europe.     Flowers  in  July. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  grasses  in  England,  occupying 
the  same  place  there  that  Timothy  does  here.  Hon.  J.  S.  Gould 
says  that  the  valuable  qualities  of  this  grass  may  be  summed  up  as 
follows  :  Its  habit  of  coming  early  to  maturity  ;  its  rapid  reproduc- 
tion after  cutting  ;  its  wonderful  adaptation  to  all  domestic  animals, 
which  is  shown  by  the  extreme  partiality  they  manifest  for  it,  either 
alone  or  when  mixed  with  other  grasses,  whether  when  used  as  green 
food  for  soiling,  as  hay  or  as  pasturage,  in  which  latter  stage  its 
stems  are  never  allowed  to  ripen  and  wither  like  those  of  other 
grasses.  One  of  its  greatest  recommendations  is  its  beneficial  influ- 
ence on  the  dairy,  not  only  in  augmenting  the  flow  of  milk,  but  in 
improving  the  flavor  of  the  cheese  and  butter  that  are  made  from  it. 
Morton,  in  the  British  Cyclopaedia  of  Agriculture,  writes  in  similar 
high  terms  of  praise.  The  literature  on  this  grass,  extolling  its 
excellent  qualities,  is  very  extensive,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  this 
species  deserves  the  attention  of  our  farmers.  The  variety  known 
as  Lolium  Italicum  is  regarded  by  many  as  the  more  desirable  of 
the  two.  Analyses,  made  in  Washington,  give  for  L.  perenne,  ash 
7.50,  fat  2.64,  nitrogen-free  extract  56.84,  crude  fiber  25.42,  albu- 
minoids 7.60,  and  for  L.  Italicum,  ash  11.02,  fat  2.32,  nitrogen- 
free  extract  51.73,  crude  fiber  20.44,  albuminoids  14.49.  The  first 
was  cut  "after  bloom"  and  the  last  "in  full  bloom." 


Genus   AGROPYRUM,   Beauvois. 
Ag-ro-py  -rum . 

Spikelets  from  three  to  nine-flowered  or  more,  compressed,  alter- 
nately sessile  on  the  continuously  or  slightly- notched  rhachis  of  the 
simple  spike,  and  with  the  side  against  the  rhachis.  Glumes  nearly 
equal  and  tapering  to  a  point,  or  awned. 

This  genus  includes  a  part  of  the  species  formerly  contained  in 
the  Linnean  genus  Triticum,  and  under  which  our  species  will  be 
found  in  the  older  works. 


48  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE. 

50.     AGROPYRUM   REPENS,    Linneus. 
Ag-ro-ptf-rum   re' -pens. 

PLATE  XXV. 

Common  Names.  Witch  Grass,  Couch  Grass,  Quitch  Grass, 
Quick  Grass,  Quack  Grass,  Wheat  Grass,  Twitch  Grass,  Dog 
Grass,  Chandler  Grass,  Quake  Grass,  Squitch  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  from  fibrous  roots, 
and  sending  out  long  running  root-stocks  under  the  surface  of  the 
ground  by  means  of  which  it  multiplies  rapidly.  Spikelets  from 
four  to  eight- flowered  ;  awn  shorter  than  the  flower,  or  none.  This 
variable  species  is  common  throughout  the  State,  and  flowers  in 
July. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  for  and  against  this  grass,  some 
pronouncing  it  one  of  the  vilest  of  weeds,  while  others  claim  for  it 
high  nutritive  qualities  sufficient  to  out-weigh  all  the  disadvantages 
of  its  growth.  No  one  will  den\r  that  in  lands  where  alternate  hus- 
bandry is  practiced,  it  is  an  evil  of  great  magnitude,  and  when  we 
have  such  a  long  list  of  most  excellent  grasses  adapted  respectively 
to  every  possible  condition  of  soil  in  the  State,  from  the  mountains 
and  rocky  pastures  down  to  the  lowest  swamp  lands  in  our  fields, 
it  seems  wholly  unnecessary  to  cultivate  this  grass.  An  analysis  of 
specimens  of  this  grass  cut  in  Maine,  was  made  at  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  in  Washington,  and  gave  ash  7.28,  fat  3.83,  nitro- 
gen-free extract  50.95,  crude  fiber  25.30,  albuminoids  12.64. 
Specimens  from  other  States  gave  quite  different  results,  in  all  cases 
a  much  smaller  percentage  of  albuminoids. 

51.     AGROPYRUM   CANINUM,    Linneus. 
Ag-ro-py'-rum   ca-ni'-num. 

Common  Names.  Fibrous-Rooted  Wheat  Grass,  Awned  Wheat 
Grass. 

Stems  arising  from  fibrous  roots  but  without  root-stocks.  Spikes 
more  or  less  nodding,  rather  dense,  from  three  to  six  inches  long. 
Spikelets  from  three  to  five-flowered  ;  awns  fully  twice  the  length  of 
the  flowering  glume.  This  is  apparently  a  rare  plant  in  Maine. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  49 

Genus   HORDEUM,    Linneus. 
llor'-de-um. 

The  ancient  Latin  name  for  barley.  4 

Flowers  arranged  in  a  dense  spike  with  two  or  three  spikelets  at 
each  joint  of  the  notched  rhachis ;  spikelets  one-flowered,  with  an 
awl-shaped  rudiment  of  a  second  flower,  the  central  spikelet  of  the 
cluster  perfect  and  sessile,  the  lateral  ones  short-stalked  and  imper- 
fect or  abortive  ;  glumes  slender  and  bristle-form.  Stamens  three. 

52.       IIoKDKIJM    JUllATIJM,    LillllCUS. 

Iloi'-de- a m  ju -ba'-tum . 

Common  Name.     Squirrel-Tail  Grass. 

Annual.  Stems  ciect,  from  four  to  ten  inches  high;  perfect 
flowers  bearing  awns  two  indies  long,  about  the  same  length  as  the 
similar  glumes,  all  spreading. 

This  worthless  grass  is  common  in  marshes  and  moist  sand  of  the 
sea  shore. 

Genus    KLY.MCS,   Linneus. 
El'-y-wivs. 

From  the  Greek  e'unnM.  a  kind  of  grain. 

Spikelets  from  Uvu  to  four  at  each  joint  of  the  rhachis  of  the 
simple  stout  spike,  sessile,  from  one  to  six-flowered  ;  glumes  two 
for  each  spikelet,  nearly  side  by  side  in  its  front,  forming  a  kind  of 
involucre  for  the  cluster,  narrow,  rigid,  from  one  to  three-nerved, 
acuminate  or  awned  ;  flowering  glume  herbaceous,  rather  shorter, 
oblong  or  lanceolate,  rounded  on  the  back,  not  keeled,  acute  or 
awncd  ;  palea  shorter,  two-keeled.  Three  species  occur  in  Maine, 
which  may  be  separated  as  follows : 

Flowers  and  glumes  without  awns E.  Mollis. 

Flowers  and  glumes,  one  or  both,  with  awns 2 

(  Spikes,  two  to  three  inches  long,  upright,  partly  enclosed  in 

2  J       the  upper  sheath E.  Virgitiicus. 

*j  Spikes,  five  to  nine  inches  long*,  nodding,  not  enclosed  in  the 
^     upper  sheath E.  Canadensis. 


50  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

53.  ELYMUS   VIRGINICUS,    Linneus. 
El'-y-mus    Vir-yiii-i-cus. 

•  PLATE  XXVI. 

Common  Names.  Smooth  Rye-Grass,  Virginian  Lyme-Grass, 
Wild  Rye-Grass,  Terrell  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stem  erect,  from  two  to  four  feet  high ;  leaves 
broadly  linear,  bright  green,  rough  ;  spike  rigidly  erect,  thick,  from 
two  to  three  inches  long,  on  a  short  stem  usually  included  in  the 
sheath  of  the  upper  leaf ;  spikelets  mostly  in  pairs  from  two  to 
three-flowered,  the  flowers  nearljT  smooth ;  glumes  lanceolate, 
strongly  nerved  and  bristle-pointed ;  flowering  glume  obscurely 
nerved  and  ending  in  a  slender  awn. 

This  grass  is  not  uncommon  along  the  moist  banks  of  streams, 
and  flowers  in  August.  Flint  says  it  is  of  no  special  value  as  an 
agricultural  grass,  but  it  is  claimed  in  the  Southern  States  that  it  is 
a  good  pasture  grass. 

54.  ELYMUS   CANADENSIS,    Linneus. 
El'-y-mus    Can-a-den-sis. 

PLATE  XXVII. 

Common  Names.  Wild  Rye,  Canadian  Lyme-Grass,  Terrell 
Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  from  three  to  four  feet  high ;  leaves 
broadly  linear ;  spikes  from  five  to  nine  inches  long,  nodding  at  the 
top,  on  a  long  stem  (peduncle.)  Spikelets  mostty  in  pairs,  each  of 
which  contains  from  three  to  five  long-awned,  rough  flowers ;  the 
awl-shaped  glumes  are  tipped  with  shorter  awns. 

Grows  along  the  banks  of  streams,  and  flowers  in  August.  Not 
common.  Probably  of  no  greater  value  than  E.  Virginicus. 

Specimens  from  the  Indian  Territory  were  analyzed  in  Washing- 
ton, and  gave  ash  5.99,  fat  3.71,  nitrogen-free  extract  50.78,  crude 
fiber  34.66,  albuminoids  4.86. 

55.     ELYMUS   MOLLIS,    Trinius. 

El'-y-mus  moT-lis. 
Common  Name.     Soft  Lyme-Grass. 

PerenniaL  Stems  from  three  to  five  feet  high,  velvety  at  the 
top ;  spike  thick,  erect,  eight  inches  long ;  spikelets,  two  or  three 


THE    GRASSES    OF  MAINE.  51 

at  each  joint,  from  five  to  eight-flowered  ;  glumes  one  inch  long, 
from  five  to  seven-nerved,  lanceolate-pointed  and  awnless  ;  flower- 
ing glume  and  palea  pointed  and  soft,  but  awnless.  Grows  along 
the  shores  of  Likes  ;  not  common. 


Genus   ASPRELLA,    Willdenow. 
As-prd'-la. 

Spikelets  two  or  three,  sometimes  solitary  at  each  joint  of  the 
rhachis,  raised  on  a  very  short  pedicel,  loosely  two  to  four-flowered 
(when  solitary,  flatwise  on  the  rhachis),  in  a  loose  terminal  spike. 
Glumes  none  or  small,  awn-like  and  deciduous. 

56.     ASPRELLA   IIYSTRIX,    Willdenow. 
As-prel'-la    liys'-trix. 

Common  Name.     Bottle-Brush  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  from  two  to  four  feet  high ;  leaves- 
broadly  linear ;  spike  from  three  to  six  inches  long ;  spikelets  two 
or  three  at  each  joint  of  the  rhachis,  at  first  erect,  but  soon  spread- 
ing almost  horizontally,  usually  three-flowered,  the  flowers  tipped 
with  an  awn  twice  their  length. 

Moist  woods.  Flowers  in  August.  This  species  is  known  in 
some  of  the  older  books  by  the  name  of  Gymnostichum  Hystrix. 

Genus   DANTIIONIA,    DeCandolle. 
Dan-tlio'-ni-a. 

Named  in  honor  of  M.  Danthoine,  a  French  botanist. 

Spikelets  from  three  to  ten-flowered,  in  a  panicle  or  simple 
raceme,  the  rhachis  hairy  and  produced  beyond  the  flowers  in  a 
stipe  or  imperfect  flower ;  glumes  narrow,  keeled,  acute,  usually  as 
long  as  the  spikelet ;  flowering  glume  convex  on  the  back,  of  firm 
texture,  from  seven  to  nine-nerved,  with  two  rigid  terminal  teeth  or 
lobes,  and  with  a  flattened,  twisted,  and  bent  awn  between  the  teeth  ; 
palea  broad,  two-keeled,  obtuse  or  two-pointed. 


52  THE   GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

57.     DANTHONIA   SPICATA,    Beauvois. 

DaM-tho' -ni-a   spi-ca'-ta. 

PLATE  XXVIII. 

Common  Names.  Wild  Oat-Grass,  Wire  Grass,  Spiked  Wild 
Oat-Grass,  White  Top,  Old  Fog.  We  have  heard  this  grass  called 
June  Grass  in  some  parts  of  the  State. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  slender,  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches 
high;  leaves  very  narrow,  flat  or  involute,  more  or  less  hairy,  the 
lower  ones  numerous  ;  spikelets  few  ;  flowering  glume  hairy. 

This  grass  is  common  in  dry  open  woods  and  fields  on  poor  worn- 
out  soils.  Flowers  in  July.  We  have  always  considered  this  to  be 
rather  an  inferior  kind  of  grass,  yet  there  are  some  farmers  who 
hold  it  in  high  esteem  !  Dr.  Vasey,  of  the  Department  ol  Agricul- 
ture, Washington,  D.  C.,  one  ot  the  highest  authorities  on  the 
grasses,  says  it  is  a  grass  of  very  little  value.  Hon.  J.  S.  Gould 
says  he  once  had  a  field  which,  in  one  very  dry  season,  bore  scarcely 
anything  but  this  grass.  The  scythes  had  to  be  ground  twice  a  day 
or  they  would  slip  over  the  slender  stems  without  cutting  them. 
When  it  was  fed  to  cattle  in  the  winter,  although  the  mangers  were 
kept  well  filled,  they  bellowed  with  hunger.  The  horses  became 
hide-bound,  and  the  cows  shrank  in  their  milk.  It  was  rather  better 
than  rye  straw,  but  not  much.  Specimens  from  New  Hampshire 
were  analyzed  in  Washington,  and  gave  ash  4.38,  fat  3.80,  nitrogen- 
free  extract  5G.92,  crude  fiber  29.11,  albuminoids  5.79. 

Genus   AVENA,    Linneus. 
A-ve'-na. 

The  ancient  Latin  name  for  oats. 

Spikelets  from  three  to  many-flowered,  in  an  open  panicle,  the 
flowers  becoming  of  a  harder  texture  than  the  large  and  nearly  equal 
lanceolate,  acute  glumes  ;  flowering  glume  with  two  teeth  at  the  end 
and  a  twisted  awn  arising  from  the  back. 

To  this  genus  belongs  the  oats  (Avena  sativa,  L.)  of  cultivation. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  53 

58.     AVENA  STRIATA,  Michaux. 
A-ve'-na  stri-a'-ta. 

PLATE  XXIX. 

Common  Names.     Wild  Oat-Grass,  Purple  Wild-Oats. 
Perennial.     Stems  erect,  simple,  smooth,  from  one  to  three  feet 
high  ;  leaves  long  and  smooth,  the  sheaths  close  and  conspicuously 
striate.     S pikelets  from  three  to  six-flowered,  much  exceeding  the 
length  of  the  acute,  purplish  glumes  :  lower  glume  one,  the  upper 
three-nerved  ;  flowers  short-bearded  at  the  base. 
Grows  on  rocky  and  shady  hills.     Flowers  in  July. 
Its  productiveness  and  agricultural  value  have  not  been  tested. 
Vermont  specimens  analyzed  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
gave   ash  4.90,  fat  4.00,  nitrogen-free  extract   56.13,  crude   fiber 
26.16,  albuminoids  8.75. 

Genus  TBISETUM.  Persoom. 
Tri-se-tum. 

From  the  Latin,  tris,  three,  and  seta,  a  bristle,  in  allusion  to  the 
three  bristles  of  the  flower. 

Spikelets  two  or  three,  rarely  five-flowered,  in  a  dense  or  open 
panicle,  the  rhachis  usually  hairy  and  produced  into  a  bristle  at  the 
base  of  the  upper  flower ;  glumes  unequal,  acute,  keeled,  membran- 
aceous,  with  scarious  outer  margins.  Flowering  glume  of  similar 
texture,  keeled,  acute,  the  apex  two-toothed,  the  teeth  sometimes  pro- 
longed into  bristle-like  points,  the  middle  nerve  with  an  awn  attached 
above  the  middle,  usually  twisted  at  the  base  and  bent  at  the  middle  ; 
palea  hyaline,  narrow,  two-nerved  and  two-toothed. 

59.     TRISETUM  SUBSPICATUM,  Beauvois. 
Tri-se'-tum  sub -spi-ca' -turn. 

PLATE  XXX. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  about  a  foot  high  ;  leaves  short  and  flat ; 
minutely  soft,  downy ;  panicle  dense,  much  contracted,  oblong  or 
linear,  from  two  to  three  inches  long ;  glumes  about  the  length  of 
the  two  or  three  flowers  ;  awn  diverging.  Grows  on  mountains  and 
river  banks.  Flowers  in  July.  Not  a  common  grass  in  Maine,  but 
should  it  receive  attention,  it  might  prove  a  valuable  grass  for  high 
pastures. 


54  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

Genus  DESCIIAMPSIA,  Beauvois. 
Des-champ' -si-a. 

Spikelets  from  two  three-flowered  ;  glumes  unequal  in  length ; 
flowering  glume  thin,  mernbranaceous,  and  with  an  awn  at  the  back 
below  the  middle.  Panicle  compound,  usually  spreading,  the  third, 
when  present,  imperfect.  The  species  here  are  to  be  found  under 
the  genus  Aria  in  the  older  books. 

60.     DESCHAMPSIA  FLEXUOSA,  Linneus. 
Des-champ '-si-a    Uex-u-o'-sa. 

Common  Names.     Common  Hair-Grass,  Wood  Hair-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  one  to  two  feet  high,  smooth  and  slender  ; 
leaves  mostly  in  a  tuft  from  the  base,  very  slender  and  with  the 
edges  rolled  in  from  one  to  six  inches  long.  The  awn  is  longer 
than  the  flowering  glume,  at  length  becoming  bent  and  twisted. 

This  species  grows  in  dry,  sandy  or  rocky  places,  and  flowers  in 
June. 

Sheep  are  said  to  be  fond  of  this  grass,  but  as  it  affords  only  a 
small  amount  of  feed,  it  is  not  worth  cultivating. 

61.     DESCIIAMPSIA   C^SPITOSA,    Linneus. 

Des-champ' -si-a    cons-pi-to'sa. 

PLATE   XXXI. 

Common  Names.     Hair  Grass,  Tnftc-d  Hair  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  tufted,  from  two  to  four  feet  high  ;  leaves  flat, 
linear,  rough  above  and  smootli  beneath.  Panicle  pyramidal  or 
oblong,  six  inches  long ;  awn  straight,  barely  equalling  the  flower- 
ing glume.  Shores  of  lakes  and  streams.  Flowers  in  July. 

Genus   HOLCUS,    Linneus. 
Hol'-cus. 

Said  to  have  been  derived  from  the  Greek,  Iwlko,  to  extract, 
because  of  its  supposed  virtue  in  drawing  out  thorns. 

Spikelets  two-flowered,  crowded  in  an  open  or  contracted  panicle  ; 
the  boat-shaped  glumes  nearly  equal  and  somewhat  compressed, 

enclosing  and  much  exceeding  the  enclosed  flowers,  which  are  a 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  55 

little  remote  from  each  other.  The  lower  flower  is  perfect,  but  the 
upper  one  is  staminate  only  and  has  a  stout  bent  awn  below  the 
apex. 

62.     HOLCUS   LANATUS,    Linneus. 

Hol'-cus  lan-a'-tus. 
PLATE   XXXII. 

Common  Names.  Velvet  Grass,  Meadow  Soft  Grass,  Velvet 
Mesqnite  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  the  whole  plant 
clothed  with  a  soft  whitish  down. 

Found  occasionally  in  fields  with  other  grasses.  Flowers  in  July. 
This  is  regarded  as  an  undesirable  grass,  and  should  be  kept  out. 
An  analysis  made  of  it  in  Washington  gave  ash  8.23,  fat  3.89, 
nitrogen- free  extract  55.52,  crude  fiber  25.01,  albuminoids  7.35. 

Genus  HIEROCHLOA,    Gruelin. 
Hi-e-roch'-lo-a. 

From  the  Greek,  hieros,  sacred,  and  chloa,  grass,  because  it  is 
used  in  certain  religious  festivals  in  Germany. 

Spikelets  three-flowered,  the  two  lower  flowers  staminate,  and 
having  three  stamens,  mostly  awned  ;  the  upper  flower  perfect  but 
having  only  two  stamens,  and  without  awns.  Smooth  perennial 
grasses  having  the  odor  of  vanilla. 

63.     HIEROCHLOA  BOREALIS,  R.  and  S. 

Hi-e-roch' -lo-a   bo-re-a'-lis. 

PLATE  XXX£II. 

Common  Names.     Vanilla  Grass,  Seneca  Grass,  Holy  Grass. 

Stems  simple,  erect,  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high ;  leaves 
smooth  and  shining,  the  lower  ones  very  long,  while  those  of  the 
stem  are  short.  Panicle  somewhat  one-sided,  pyramidal,  from  two 
to  five  inches  long ;  peduncles  smooth  ;  perfect  flower  pointless, 
staminate  flowers  slightly  awned,  spikelets  chestnut  colored.  Grows 
in  wet  lands,  and  flowers  i^  June. 

This  grass  is  remarkably  sweet-scented  and  is  used  by  the  Penob- 
scot  Indians,  in  the  manufacture  of  baskets,  but  does  not  appear  to 
be  of  any  value  as  a  fodder. 


56  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

Specimens  from  Illinois  gave  ash  9.32,  fat  4.06,  nitrogen-free 
extract  49.45,  crude  fiber  23.02,  albuminoids  14.15. 

64.     HIEROCIILOA  ALPINA,  R.  and  S. 
Hi-e-rocli -lo-a    al-pi'-na. 

Common  Name.     Alpine  Holy  Grass. 

Stems  erect,  from  six  to  twelve  inches  high  ;  stem-leaves  short. 
Panicle  contracted,  from  one  to  two  inches  long ;  spikelets  oblong, 
compressed,  longer  than  the  pedicels. 

This  species  grows  on  the  summits  of  mountains  and  flowers  in 
July. 

Genus  ANTHOXANTHUM,  Linneus. 
An-thox-an'-thum. 

From  the  Greek,  anthos,  a  flower,  and  xatithos,  3*ellow. 

Panicle  somewhat  spiked  ;  spikelets  three-flowered,  the  two  lower 
ones  represented  only  by  a  single-awned  flowering  glume  each,  which 
are  hairy  on  the  outside  and  notched  at  the  end,  from  the  bottom  of 
which  the  awns  arise.  The  upper  glume  is  fullj*  as  long  as  the 
flowers,  somewhat  hairy  and  twice  the  length  of  the  lower  glume. 
Stamens  three. 

65.     ANTHOXANTHUM   ODORATUM,  Linneus. 
An-thox-an'-thum   o-do-ra'-tum. 
PLATE  XXXIV. 

Common  Names.  Sweet  Vernal  Grass,  Sweet-Scented  Vernal 
Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  slender,  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches 
high ;  leaves  more  or  less  pubescent ;  ligule  elongated.  Panicle 
usually  contracted  into  more  or  less  of  a  spike  which  is  of  a  brown- 
ish color  or  tinged  with  green  ;  flowers  pubescent,  shorter  than  the 
awns. 

Common  in  fields  and  pastures ;  flowers  in  June  and  July. 

This  grass  is  very  sweet-scented  in  drying.  It  is  nowhere  con- 
sidered a  valuable  grass,  for  the  yielcl  is  very  light.  It  is  much 
used  to  mix  with  other  species  on  lawns.  Specimens  of  this  grass 
from  New  Hampshire  were  analyzed  in  Washington,  and  gave  ash 
8.43,  fat  3.41,  nitrogen-free  extract  53.81,  crude  fiber  25.79,  albumi- 
noids 8.56. 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  57 

Genus   PHALARIS,    Liuneus. 
Phat-a-ris. 

From  the  Greek,  phalos,  shining,  in  allusion  to  the  smooth  sur- 
face of  the  flowering  glume.  Spikelets  crowded  in  a  clustered  or 
spiked  panicle,  apparently  one,  but  really  three-flowered,  the  two 
inferior  flowers  scale-like  and  minute,  the  upper  flower  perfect. 
Glumes  equal,  keeled  and  awnless. 

66.     PHALARIS   CANARIENSIS,    Linneus. 

Phal'-a-ris   ca-na-ri-eri-sis. 

• 

Common  Name.     Canarj'  Grass. 

Annual.  Stems  simple  and  smooth,  from  eighteen  inches  to  two 
feet  high  ;  leaves  one-third  of  an  inch  wide,  pale  green,  the  sheaths 
somewhat  inflated  Panicle  spike-like,  oval ;  glumes  boat-shaped, 
entire  at  the  point,  yellowish  green  ;  flowering  glume  and  palea 
hairy. 

Grows  about  houses  where  the  seeds  have  been  scattered. 
Flowers  from  July  to  September.  Cultivated  occasionally  for  the 
seed,  which  is  considered  the  best  food  for  Canary  birds.  Hon.  J. 
S.  Gould  says  that  cattle  are  very  fond  of  it  when  it  is  3'oung,  but 
the  yield  is  too  small  to  be  profitable. 

67.     PHALARIS   ARUNDINACEA,    Linneus. 

Phal'-a-ris   a-run-di-na-ce-a. 

PLATE  XXXV. 

Common  Names.     Reed  Canary-Grass,  Ribbon  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect  and  smooth,  from  two  to  four  feet  high  ; 
leaves  one-third  of  an  inch  wide,  smooth,  with  rough  edges.  Panicle 
from  two  to  five  inches  long,  ovoid,  a  little  spreading  when  old ; 
glumes  boat-shaped,  obtusely  keeled.  Wet  grounds.  Flowers  in 
July. 

In  variety  picta,  the  leaves  are  striped  with  white.  This  is  the 
common  Ribbon-Grass  of  the  gardens,  which,  if  planted  in  low  or 
wet  grounds  will  change  to  the  original  grass  again. 

This  grass  is  said  to  be  extensively  used  in  Sweden  for  fodder, 
but  in  this  country  cattle  will  not  eat  it  if  they  can  get  anything 


58  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

better.  An  analysis  of  this  grass,  "in  bud,"  was  made  by  Prof.  F. 
H.  Storer,  and  gave  ash  6.63,  fat  2.99,  nitrogen-free  extract  42.93, 
crude  fiber  36.39,  albuminoids  11.06. 

Genus   PANICUM,    Linneus. 
Pan-i-cum. 

Said  to  be  derived  from  the  Latin,  paw's,  bread  ;  the  grain  of 
some  species  being  used  for  food. 

The  flowers  are  arranged  in  panicles  in  some  species  and  in  spikes 
in  others.  Spikelets  two-flowered,  naked,  the  flowers  with  or  with- 
out awns ;  the  lower  one  staminate  or  neutral,  the  upper  one  per- 
fect. 4 

Nine  species  of  this  genus  have  been  reported  in  this  State  thus 
far,  and  these  may  be  distinguished  by  the  following  table : 

..  (  Flowers  with  awns P.  crus-galli. 

\  Flowers  without  awns 2 

2  f  Spikelets  crowded  on  one-sided  spikes P.  glubrum. 

\  Spikelets  scattered  in  panicles 3 

o  |  Panicle  elongated,  wand-like  or  pyramidal 4 

{  Panicle  short  or  small,  loosely  spreading 5 

.  |  Sheaths,  and  usually  the  leaves,  very  hairy  . .  ..P.  capillare. 
\  Sheaths  and  leaves  not  hairy P.  virgatum. 


{Leaves  wide,  with  from  nine  to  fifi 
Leaves  narrow,  with  few  or  indisti 


fifteen  nerves 6 

indistinct  veins 8 


g  f  Outside  of  the  sheaths  smooth P.  latifolium. 

\  Outside  of  the  sheaths  rough  with  minute  bristles 7 

(Base  of  the  leaves  heart-shaped  and  clasping ;  about  an  inch 
wide P.  clanclestinum. 
Base  of  the  leaves  not  heart-shaped  and  clasping ;  about  half 
an  inch  wide P.  xanthophysum. 

g  (  Stems  short  and  tufted P.  depauperatum. 

(  Stems  taller  and  nearly  simple P.  dichotichum. 

68.     PANICUM  GLABRUM,    Gaud. 

Pan'-i-cum   gla'-brum. 
Common  Name     Smooth  Crab-Grass. 

Annual.     Stems  from  five  to  twelve  inches  long,  spreading,  pros- 
trate or  sometimes  erect.       Spikes  three  or  four  in  number,  spread- 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  59 

ing,  from  two  to  six  inches  long,  diverging,  nearly  digitate.  Spike- 
lets  ovoid ;  lower  glume  wanting,  the  upper  one  equalling  the 
flower.  A  troublesome  weed.  Grows  in  waste  and  cultivated 
grounds,  and  flowers  from  August  to  October. 


69.     PANICUM   CAPILLARE,    Linneus. 

Pan'-i-cum   cap~il-la'-re. 
PLATE  XXXVI. 

Common  Names.     Old-Witch  Grass,  Hair-Stalked  Panic-Grass. 

Annual.  Stems  from  one  to  two  feet  high,  often  branching  at 
the  base  and  forming  a  tuft- ;  leaves  flat,  one-third  of  an  inch  wide 
and  hairy  ;  the  sheaths  clothed  with  rigid,  spreading  hairs.  Panicle 
in  the  form  of  a  pyramid,  expanding,  loose  ;  glumes  often  purplish. 

Sandy  soils  and  cultivated  tit-Ids.  Flowers  in  August  and  Sep- 
tember. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  worthless  of  grasses,  and  is  generally 
rejected  by  cattle.  Specimens  from  the  Indian  Territory  were 
analyzed  at  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  ^ave  ash  5.59,  fat 
3.89,  nitrogen-free  extract  55. 30,  crude  fiber  28.24,  albuminoids 
6.98. 

70.     PANICUM  VIRGATUM,  Linneus. 

Pan'-i-cum    vir-ga'-tum. 

PLATE  XXXVII. 

Common  Names.  Tall  Panic-Grass,  Tall  Smooth  Panic-Grass, 
Switch  Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  three  to  five  feet  high;  leaves  very  long 
and  flat,  of  a  yellowish  tinge  when  old ;  ligule  silky  bearded  ;  whole 
plant  very  smooth  ;  panicle  diffuse,  very  large  ;  spikelets  scattered, 
usually  purplish,  the  lower  flowers  staminate,  with  the  flowering 
glume  and  palca  nearly  equal. 

Moist,  sandy  soil,  flowering  in  August.  Dr.  Vasey  says  this  is  a 
good  and  prolific  grass  if  cut  when  young ;  when  ripe  it  becomes 
harsh  and  unpalatable.  Texas  specimens  gave  ash  7.24,  fat  1.66, 
nitrogen-free  extract  49.39,  crude  fiber  36.78,  albuminoids  4.93. 


60  THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE. 

71.     PANICUM   LATIFOLIUM,    Linncus. 
Pan-i-cum    lat-i-fo-li-um. 

Common  Name.     Broad-Leaved  Panic-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  smooth,  simple  or  somewhat  branching, 
from  one  to  two  feet  high.  The  joints  and  throat  of  the  sheaths 
bearded  with  soft,  woolly  hairs  ;  leaves,  often  one  inch  wide,  broadly 
oblong-lanceolate  from  a  heart-shaped,  clasping  base.  Panicle 
terminal,  partially  enclosed  by  the  sheath  of  the  upper  leaf;  spike- 
lets  obovate  and  downy. 

Grows  in  moist  woods,  and  flowers  in  July  and  August.  Flint 
says  it  is  of  no  value  for  cultivation. 

72.     PANICUM    CLANDESTINUM,    Linneus. 
Pan'-i-cum    dan-des-ti'-num. 

Common  Name.  .  Hidden-Flowered  Panic-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  erect,  rigid,  very 
leafy  to  the  top  ;  leaves  from  three  to  six  inches  long  and  an  inch  or 
more  wide ;  strongly  nerved,  smooth  or  slightly  hairy  above,  with  a 
heart-shaped,  clasping  base  ;  joints  naked,  with  papillae  bearing  very 
stiff  and  spreading  bristly  hairs  ;  lateral  and  also  terminal  panicle 
more  or  less  enclosed  in  the  sheaths  ;  spikelets  ovoid,  often  smooth  ; 
lower  flowers  neutral. 

Grows  in  low  thickets  and  on  river  banks.  Flowers  in  July  and 
August. 

73.     PANICUM  XANTHOPIIYSUM,  Gray. 

Pan'-i-cum  xan-tho-phy'-sum.  % 

Common  Name.     Yellow  Panic-Grass. 

Perennial.  Whole  plant  light  green,  becoming  yellowish  in  dry- 
ing ;  stems  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  high,  slender  and  smooth  ; 
leaves  from  three  to  six  inches  long  and  about  half  an  inch  wide  ; 
sheaths  hairy  Panicle  nearly  simple,  few-flowered,  on  a  long, 
naked,  slender  peduncle  ;  spikelets  globose-obovate,  pubescent,  the 
lower  glume  about  one-third  the  length  of  the  upper  one  ;  lower 
flower  staminate. 

Grows  on  dry,  sandy  soils,  and  flowers  in  June.     Rare. 


THE   GRASSES   OF   MAINE.  61 

74.     PANICUM   DICHOTOMUM,    Linneus. 
Pan'-i-cum   di-chotf-o-mum. 

Common  Name.     Polymorphic  Panic-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  eight  inches  to  two  feet  high,  at  first 
simple,  mostly  erect,  but  sometimes  procumbent.  Radical  leaves 
short  and  very  broad,  often  purplish  and  usually  smooth,  those  of 
the  stem  narrower  and  much  longer,  spreading,  smooth  or  hair}7 ; 
sheaths  pubescent  or  sometimes  smooth.  Spikelets  minute,  on  long 
peduncles,  obovate,  mostly  pubescent,  lower  glume  one-third  the 
length  of  the  upper ;  lower  flower  neutral.  This  is  an  extremely 
variable  species. 

Moist  meadows,  fields  and  woods.  Flowers  from  July  to  Septem- 
ber. 

75.     PANICUM    DE PAUPER ATUM,    Muhlenberg. 

Pan'-i-cum   de-pau-per-a'-tum . 

Common  Names.     Worthless  Panic,  Few-Flowered  Panic-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  eight  to  fifteen  inches  high  ;  lowest  leaves 
short  and  near  together,  upper  ones  from  three  to  six  inches  long, 
pale  green,  more  or  less  hairy  underneath,  smooth  above,  fringed 
with  a  few  long  hairs  towards  the  base,  involute  when  old  ;  sheaths 
about  two  inches  long,  on  a  slender  peduncle,  the  branches  mostly 
clothed  more  or  less  with  rather  stiff,  spreading  hairs.  Panicle 
in  pairs ;  spikelets  somewhat  acuminate  when  dry,  conspicuously 
striate. 

Dry  woods  and  highlands.     Flowers  in  June. 

76.     PANICUM   CRUSGALLI,    Linneus. 
Pan'-i-cum   crus-gal'-li. 

PLATE  XXXVIII. 

Common  Names.     Barnyard  Grass,  Barn  Grass. 

Annual.  Stem  from  two  to  four  feet  high,  stout,  erect  or  some- 
what procumbent ;  leaves  half  an  inch  or  more  in  breadth.  Panicle 
dense  pyramidal,  the  spikelets  crowded  in  dense,  spike-like  racemes  ; 
glumes  acute,  the  awn  variable  in  length  and  sometimes  wanting ; 
flowering  glurne  of  the  neutral  flower  usually  awned  ;  perfect  flowers 
smooth  and  coriaceous. 


62  THE    GRASSES    OP   MAINE. 

Very  common  everywhere  in  moist,  rich  lands.  Flowers  in 
August  and  September. 

This  grass  is  regarded  as  a  mere  weed  in  this  State,  but  in  the 
South  it  is  cultivated  to  sorne  extent  for  fodder.  Specimens  from 
Pennsylvania  were  analyzed  in  Washington,  and  gave  ash  11.82, 
fat  2.49,  nitrogen-free  extract  47.77,  crude  fiber  25.32,  albumi- 
noids 12.60. 

Genus  SETARIA,  Beauvois. 

Se-ta-ri-a. 

From  the  Latin  seta,  a  bristle,  in  allusion  to  the  bristly  spikes. 

Spikelets  in  a  cylindrical  spike-like,  or  sometimes  interrupted 
panicle.  Below  the  spikelets  there  are  several  bristles,  which  remain 
after  the  spikelets  fall  off.  The  spikelets  contain  two  flowers  (ap- 
parently only  one),  the  upper  one  perfect,  the  lower  one  male  or 
sterile  ;  glumes  nearly  equal  in  length,  much  shorter  than  the  flowers. 
Three  species  occur  in  Maine,  and. may  be  separated  as  follows  : 

f  Spike  (or  panicle)  nodding  from  four  to  six  inches  long, 
1  1                                                                                          S.  Italica. 
(  Spike  erect,  from  two  to  three  inches  long   2 

~  f  Spike  tawny  yellow S.  glauca. 

\  Spike  green S.  viridis. 


77.     SETARIA  GLAUCA.  Beauvois. 
Se-ta-ri-a  glau'-ca. 

PLATE  XXXTX. 

Common  Names.     Foxtail,  Botlle  Grass,  Pigeon  Grass. 

Annual.  Sterns  erect,  from  one  to  three  feet  high  ;  leaves  hairy 
at  the  base ;  sheaths  smooth ;  ligule  bearded.  Spike  cylindrical, 
simple,  tawny,  from  two  to  three  inches  long;  from  six  to  ten  bris- 
tles arise  from  the  base  of  each  spikelet,  two  or  three  times  as  long 
as  the  spikelets,  which  are  rough  upwards  and  of  a  tawny  or  dull 
orange  yellow  color  when  old.  Fields  and  cultivated  grounds. 
Flowers  in  August. 

This  grass  has  been  regarded  as  a  worthless  weed,  but  Dr.  Warder 
stated  that  he  had  a  luxuriant  growth  of  it  in  one  of  his  corn  fields  ; 
that  he  mowed  it  and  made  it  into  hay.  To  his  great  surprise,  he 
found  that  in  the  winter  season  his  cattle  ate  it  voraciously  ;  they 


THE    GRASSES    OF    MAINE.  63 

would  leave  Bine  Grass  and  Timothy  at  any  time  to  eat  it.  The 
seeds  are  said  to  be  excellent  for  turkeys  and  chickens.  Dr.  Vasey 
says  this  grass  is  as  nutritious  as  Hungarian  Grass,  but  not  as  pro- 
ductive. An  analysis  of  this  grass  made  at  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  gave  ash  7.27,  fat  2.66,  nitrogen-free  extract,  55.28, 
crude  fiber  25.75,  albuminoids  9.04. 


78.     SETARIA  VIRIDIS,  Beauvois. 
Se-ta'-ri-a  vir'-i-dis. 

Common  Names.     Green  Foxtail,  Bottle  Grass. 

Annual.  Stems  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  erect,  mostly  simple  : 
spike  cylindrical,  green,  from  two  to  three  inches  long  ;  bristles  from 
four  to  ten  arising  from  the  base  of  each  spikelet.  Cultivated  fields. 
Flowers  in  August.  The  seeds  are  eaten  by  poultry  and  birds. 


79.     SETARIA  ITALICA,  Kunth. 

Se-ta'-ri-a    I-tat-i-ca. 

PLATE    XL. 

Common  Names.  Hungarian  Grass,  Italian  Millet,  German 
Millet. 

Annual.  Stems  erect,  stout,  from  two  to  four  feet  high,  with 
numerous  long  and  broad  leaves  and  a  terminal,  spike-like,  nodding 
panicle,  from  four  to  six  inches  long  and  often  an  inch  or  more  in 
diameter.  The  panicle  is  composed  of  a  great  number  of  small, 
closely  crowded  branches,  each  of  which  consists  of  a  small  group 
of  several  clusters  of  spikelets  at  the  base  of  which  arise  two 
or  three  bristles,  sometimes  long  and  sometimes  short.  This  varia- 
ble species  has  been  considered,  until  recently,  to  comprise  more 
than  one  species,  but  botanists  now  regard  the  different  forms  as 
only  varieties  of  one  species.  Jt  owes  its  value  as  a  fodder  plant 
to  the  abundance  of  its  foliage  and  to  the  large  amount  of  seed  pro- 
duced. Prof.  Phares  states  that  for  forage  it  should  be  cut  as  soon 
as  it  blooms,  when,  of  course,  it  is  worth  nothing  for  seed,  but  is 
most  valuable  for  forage  and  exhausts  the  land  much  less.  If  left 
for  the  seed  to  mature  they  are  very  abundant  and  rich  feed,  but 
the.  stems  are  worthless,  while  the  soil  is  more  damaged.  Specimens 


64  THE    GRASSES    OF   MAIXE. 

from  Pennsylvania  were  analyzed  at  Washington,  and  gave  ash  7.50, 
fat  2.71,  nitrogen-free  extract  55.78,  crude  fiber  24.52,  albuminoids 
9.45. 

Genus  ANDROPOGON,  Linneus. 
An-dro-po'-gon . 

From  the  Greek,  ewer,  man,  and  pogon,  a  beard,  in  allusion  to 
the  hairy  flowers. 

Spikelets  arranged  in  simple  or  panicled  spikes.  Spikelets  in 
pairs  in  the  alternate  notches  of  the  rhachis,  one  sessile  and  perfect, 
the  other  pedicelcd  and  staminate  or  neuter.  Fertile  spikelet  with 
two  more  or  less  coriaceous  glumes  and  with  the  palea  awned  at  the 
tip. 

Spikes  two  to  five  from  one  point  (^digitate) A.  farcatus. 

Spikes  distinct,  not  from  one  point A   scoparius. 

• 

80.     ANDROPOGON  FURCATUS,  Muhlenberg. 
An-dro-po'-go  fur-ca'-tus. 

PLATE  XLL 

Common  Names.     Blue  Stem,  Finger-Spiked  Wood-Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  erect,  from  three  to  four  feet  high,  the  naked 
top  of  the  stem  terminated  by  from  two  to  five  rigid  spikes. 
Spikelets  approximate,  appressed ;  hairs  at  the  base  of  the  fertile 
spikelet,  on  the  rhachis  and  on  the  stout  pedicel  of  the  awnless 
staminate  spikelet,  short  and  rather  sparse ;  awn  of  the  fertile 
flower  long  and  bent. 

Grows  in  dn*,  sterile  soils,  and  flowers  in  August  and  September. 

This  species  has  not  been  cultivated  in  this  State,  but  Dr.  Vasey 
states  that  it  is  abundant  on  the  prairies  of  the  West,  where  it  is 
one  of  the  principal  hay  grasses  of  the  country,  and  is  extensively 
cut  and  cured  for  winter  use.  An  analysis  of  specimens  from  Penn- 
sylvania, gave  ash  13.53,  fat  2.47,  nitrogen-free  extract  51.97,  crude 
fiber  27.04,  albuminoids  4.99. 


THE    GRASSES    OF   MAINE.  65 

81.     ANDROPOGON  SCOPARIUS,  Michaux. 

An-dro-po' -gon  sco-pa'-ri-us. 

PLATE  XLII. 

Common  Names.  Wood  Grass,  Purple  Wood  Grass,  Broom 
Grass. 

Perennial.  Stems  from  three  to  four  feet  high,  with  numerous  pan- 
iculate branches ;  lower  sheaths  and  narrow  leaves  hairy.  Spikes 
slender,  scattered,  mostly  pedunculate,  from  one  to  two  inches 
long,  very  loose,  often  purplish,  sickty,  with  dull  whitish  hairs.  Sterile 
spikelet  awn-pointed  or  awnless,  the  fertile  flower  about  halt*  the 
length  of  its  twisted  or  bent  awn. 

Grows  in  dry,  barren  soils,  and  flowers  in  August. 

In  some  parts  of  the  South  it  is  ver\T  common  and  much  despised, 
though  it  has  its  good  qualities,  for  in  the  dry  pine  woods  it  contri- 
butes, while  green  and  tender,  a  large  share  to  the  sustenance  of 
stock. 

One  analysis  made  in  Washington,  of  specimens  from  Alabama, 
gave  ash  5.84,  fat  1.58,  nitrogen-free  extract,  62.29,  crude  fiber 
24.64,  albuminoids  5.65- 


Index  to  the  Scientific  Names. 


no. 

Agropyrum  caninum,  51 

44          repens,  50 

Agrostis  alba,  10 

44        canina,  9 

44        perennans,  7 

44        seabra,  8 

4i        vulgaris,  10 

Alopecurus  geniculatus,  3 

44          pratensis,  2 

Ammophila  arundinacea,  17 

Andropogon  fureatus,  80 


scoparius, 


81 


Antlioxanthum  odoratum,       65 

Asprella  hystrix,  56 

•A vena  striata,  58 

Brachyelytrum  aristatum,  15 

Bromus  asper,  47 

44      ciliatus,  46 

44      secalinns,  45 

Cinna  ariindinacea,  11 

Cynodon  dactylon,  24 

Daotylis  glomerata,  26 

Danthonia  spicata,  57 

Deschampsia  ca?spitosa,  61 

flexuosa,  60 

Deyeuxia  Canadensis,  16 

Distichlis  raaritima,  36 

P^l\-mus  Canadensis,  54 

44       mollis,  55 

44       Virginicus,  53 

Festuca  elatior,  44 

ovina,  43 

44       tenella,  42 


Glyceria  acutiflora, 
44        aquatica, 
44        Canadensis, 
44        elongata, 
44        fluitans, 
44        maritirna, 

nervata, 
44        obtusa, 
44        pallida, 


KO. 

34 

32 
27 
29 
33 
35 
30 
28 
31 


Graphephorum  melicoides,  25 

Hierochloa  alpiua,  64 

44          borealis,  63 

Holcus  lanatns,  62 

Hordeum  jubatum,  52 

Leersia  oryzoides,  1 

Loliura  perenne,  49 

Mulilenbergia  glomerata,  12 

t4            Mexicana,  13 

44            sylvatica,  14 

Oryzopsis  asperifolia,  18 

44        Canadeusis,  19 

Panicum  capillare,  69 

44         clandestinum,  72 

44         crusgalli,  76 

'4         depauperatum,  75 

44        dichotomum,  74 

4k        glabrum,  68 

latifolium,  71 

44         virgatum,  70 

44         xanthophysum,  73 

Phalaris  arundinacea,  67 

44        Canariensis,  66 

Plileum  pratense,  4 


INDEX. 


67 


WO. 

Phragmites  com  munis,  48 

Poa  annua,  37 

44    compressa,  38 

44    laxa,  39 

**    pratensis,  41 

41    serotina,  40 

Setaria  glauca,  77 

44       Italica,  79 


wo. 

Setaria  viridis,  78 

Spartina  cynosuroides,  21 

44        juncea,  22 

44        stricta,  23 

Sporobolus  cuspidatus,  5 

44          serotinus,  6 

Stipa  Richardsonii,  20 

Trisetum  subspicatum,  5y 


Index  to  the  Common  Names. 


wo. 

Alpine  Holy  Grass,  64 

Annual  Spear  Grass,  37 

Awned  Brachyelytrum,  15 

Awned  Wheat  Grass,  51 

Barn  Grass,  76 

Barn}7ard  Grass,  76 

Beach  Grass,  17 

Bent  Grass,  10 

Bermuda  Grass,  24 

Blue  Grass,  38 

Blue  Joint-Grass,  16 

Blue  Stem,  80 

Bottle-Brush  Grass,  56 
Bottle  Grass,  77,  78 
Broad-Leaved  Panic  Grass,  71 

Broom  Grass,  81 

Brown  Bent-Grass  9 

Brown  Top,  41 

Burden's  Grass,  10 

Canadian  Lyme  Grass,  54 

Canadian  Rice,  19 

Canadian  Small- Reed,  16 

Canary  Grass,  66 

Chandler  Grass,  50 

Cheat,  45 

Chess,  45 
Clustering  Mublenbergia,  12 
Cluster-Spiked  Muhlenbergia,  12 

Cock's-Foot  Grass,  26 

Common  Darnel,  49 

Common  Foxtail  Grass,  2 

Common  Hair  Grass,  60 


NO. 

Common  Manna  Grass,  33 

Common  Sea  Reed,  17 

Couch  Grass,  50 

Cut  Grass,  1 

Dog  Grass,  50 

Dog's  Bent-Grass,  9 

Duck  Grass,  40 

False  Red  Top,  40 

False  Rice,  1 

Few-Flowered  Alpine 

Meadow  Grass,  39 
Few- Flowered  Panic  Grass,  75 
Fibrous  Rooted  Wheat-Grass,  51 
Finger-Spiked  Wood  Grass,  80 
Fine  Top,  10 

Flat-Stalked  Grass,  38 

Floating  Foxtail,  3 

Floating  Manna  Grass,  33 

Fly- A  way  Grass,  8 

Fowl  Meadow  Grass,        30,  40 
Foxtail,  77 

Fresh  Water  Card-Grass,        21 
Fringed  Brome  Grass,  46 

German  Millet,  79 

Green  Foxtail,  78 

Green  or  Common  Meadow 

Grass,  41 

Hair  Grass,  8,  61 

Hair-Stalked  Panic  Grass,      69 
Herds-Grass,  4,  10 

Hidden  Flowered  Panic  Grass,  72 
Holy  Grass,  63 


INDEX, 


Hungarian  Grass,  79 

Italian  Millet,  79 

Italian  Rye  Grass,  49 

June  Grass,  41 ,  57 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass,  41 
Large  White-Grained  Moun- 
tain Rice,  18 

Late- Flowering  Sporobolus,      6 
Long- Pan ieled  Manna  Grass,  29 

Low  Spear  Grass,  37 

Marsh  Grass,  22,  36 

Mat  Grass,  17 

Meadow  Fescue,  44 

Meadow  Foxtail,  2 

Meadow  Soft  Grass,  62 

Mexican  Muhlbenbergia,  13 

Mountain  Red-Top,  9 

Nerved  Manna  Grass,  30 

Nerved  Meadow  Grass,  30 

Obtuse  Spear  Grass,  28 

Old  Fog,  57 

Old- Witch  Grass,  69 

Orchard  Grass,  26 

Pale  Manna  Grass,  31 

Perennial  Rye  Grass,  49 

Pigeon  Grass,  77 

Pointed  Spear  Grass,  34 
Polymorphus  Panic  Grass,     74 

Prickle  Grass,  1 

Purple  Wild  Oats,  58 

Purple  Wood  Grass,  81 

Quack  Grass,  50 

Quake  Grass,  50 

Quick  Grass,  50 

Quitch  Grass,  50 

Rattlesnake  Grass,  27 

Ray  Grass,  49 

Red-Top,  10 

Reed,  48 


HO. 

Reed  Canary  Grass,  67 

Reed  Meadow  Grass,  32 

Rhode  Island  Bent,  10 

Ribbon  Grass,  67 

Rice  Cut  Grass,  1 

Richardson's  Feather,  20 

Rough  Cock's-Foot,  26 

Rush  Salt  Grass,  22 

Rye  Grass,  49 
Salt  Grass,  22,  36 

Salt  Marsh  Grass,  23 

Scutch  Grass,  24 

Sea  Sand  Reed,  17 

Sea  Spear  Grass,  35 

Seneca  Grass,  63 
Sharp-Flowered  Manna 

Grass,  34 

Sheep's  Fescue,  43 

Slender  Fescue  Grass,  42 

Smallest  Oryzopsis,  19 

Small  Reed  Grass,  16 

Smooth  Crab-Grass,  68 

Smooth  Marsh  Grass,  23 

Smooth  Rye  Grass,  53 
Smooth-Stalked  Meadow 

Grass,  41 

Soft  Lyme  Grass,  55 

Spiked  Muhlenbergia,  12 

Spiked  Wild  Oat  Grass,  57 

Spike  Grass,  36 

Squirrel-Tail  Grass,  52 

Squitch  Grass,  50 

Suffolk  Grass,  37 

Swamp  Wire  Grass,  40 
Sweet-Scented  Vernal  Grass,  65 

Sweet  Vernal  Grass,  65 

Switch  Grass,  70 
Taller  or  Meadow  Fescue,  44 

Tall  Marsh  Grass,  21 


70 


INPKX. 


Tall  Panic  Grass, 
Tall  Quaking  Grass, 
Tall  Smooth  Panic  Grass, 


Terrell  Grass, 

Thin  Grass, 

Tickle  Grass, 

Timothy, 

Tufted  Hair  Grass, 

Twitch  Grass, 

Vanilla  Grass, 

Velvet  Grass, 

Velvet  Mesquite  Grass, 

Virginian  Lyme  Grass, 

Water  Foxtail  Grass, 

Wheat  Grass, 

White  Grass, 


53, 


NO. 

70  White  Mountain  Rice, 

27  White  Spear  Grass, 

70  White  Top, 

54  Wild  Oat  Grass, 

7  Wild  Rye, 

8  Wild  Rye  Grass, 

4  Willard's  Brome  Grass, 

61  Wire  Grass, 
50  Witch  Grass, 

63  Wood  Grass,  13, 

62  Wood  Hair  Grass, 
62  Wood  Muhlenbergia, 
53  Wood  Reed  Grass, 

3  Worthless  Panic, 

50  Yellow  Panic  Grass, 
1 


f>7 


wo. 
18 
32 
57 
58 
54 
53 
45 

38,  57 
50 

14,  81 
60 
14 
11 
75 
73 


PLATE  I. 


ALOPECURUS  PRATENSIS,  L.  (Meadow  Foxtail}. 


PLATE   IF. 


PHLKUM  PRATENSK,  L.     (Timothy). 


PLATE  III. 


AGROSTIS  CANINA,  L.     (Brown  Bent-Grass'}. 


PLATE  IV. 


Ar.iiosTis  VCLGAHIS,  With.     (Red-Top). 


PLATE  V. 


CINXA  ARUXDIXACEA,  L.     (  Wood  ficcd-Grass). 


MUHLENBEKGIA  GLOMERATA,  Trin.     (Spiked  MuMeubergia). 


PLATE  VII. 


MUHLENBERGIA   MEXICAXA,   Trill.      (Wood   Grass'). 


PLATE  VIII. 


Sc. 

MuiiLEMiEiiGiA  SYLVATICA,  Tor.  &  Gr.     ( Wood  Grass}. 


PLATE   IX. 


DI;VI:I  XIA  CAXADENSIS,  Besiuv.     (Blue  Joint-Grass). 


PLATE  X. 


SPARTIXA  JDNCEA,  Willd.     (Hush  .Salt-Grass). 


PLATE  XL 


CYXODON  DACTYLON,  Pers.     (Bermuda  Grass}. 


PLATE  XII. 


DACTVLI.S  CLOMKKATA,  L.     (Orchard  Grass). 


PLATE  XIII. 


to  Ml* 


GI.VCKKIA  CANADEXSIS,  Trin.     (Rattlesnake  Grans}. 


PLATE  XIV. 


lARX.DEL. 


GLYCERIA  NEKVATA,  Triii.     (X 


NICHO  LS.S- 


TM.ATK    XV. 


GLYCERIA  AQUATICA,  Smith.     (Reed  Meadow-Grass'), 


SAMUEL  HUBBAKD  SUUUDtK  UULLbUTlUW, 
BIOLOGICAL  LABORATORY, 
IAMS  COLLEGE. 


PLATE  XVI. 


id 

DISTICH  LIS  MAKITIMA,  Raf.     (Spike  Grass). 


HHN 


PLATE   XVII. 


1*0  A  COMTHKSSA,  L.     ( \V ire  Grass.) 


PLATE   XVIII. 


POA  SEROTINA,  Ehr.     (Fowl  Meadow-Grass}. 


PLATE   XIX. 


POA  PRATENSIS,  L.     (Kentucky  Blue-Grass). 


PLATE  XX. 


V\. \A.U\CHOLS.EHG. 


FKSTI  c.v  OVJXA,   L.     (Cheep's  Fescue), 


PLATE  XXI. 


FKSTUCA  ELATION,  L.     (Meadow  Fescue}. 


PL  ATI-;  x\ir. 


s 
BROMUS  SECALINUS,  L.      (Cheat  or  Chess.} 


PLATE   XXTIT. 


PHRAGMITES  COMMUNIS,  Trin. 


PLATE   XXIV. 


PLATE  XXV. 


AGROPYRUM  RKPKNS,  L.     (Witch-Grass}. 


PLATE    XXVE. 


ELYMUS  VIRGINICUS,  L.    (Smooth  Eye-Grass). 


PLATE   XXVII. 


ELYMUS  CANADENSIS,  L.     (Wild  Eye}. 


PLATE   XXVIII. 


DANTHONTA  SPICATA,  Benuv.     (Wild  Oat-Grass}. 


PLATE  XXFX. 


AVENA  STRIATA,  Miclix.     (Wild  Oat-Grass}. 


PLATE    XXX. 


TRISETUM  SUBSPICATUM.  K»>auv. 


PLATE   XXXI. 


DESCHAMPSIA  CAESPITOSA,  L.     (Hair  Grass'). 


PLATE  XXXII. 


IIOLCUS  LANATUS,  L.     (  F<"7i;^  Grass). 


PLATE   XXXIII. 


r 

HTKROCTTLOA  BORF.ALTS,  R  <fc  S.     (Vanilla  Grass). 


PLATE    XXXIV. 


ANTIJOXAXTHUM  ODOHA.TUM,  L.     (Sweet  Vernal-Grass}. 


PLATE   XXXV. 


a 


O.BE/DFMANN.SC. 

PllALAKis  AUUNDINACEA,  L.     (Heed  Canary-Grass). 


PLATE  XXXVI. 


PAXICUM:  CAPILLARR,  L.     (Old-Witch  Grass}. 


PLATE   XXXVII. 


PANICUM  VIRGATUM,  L.     (Tall  Panic-Grass). 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 


PANICCM  ORUS-GALLI,  L.     (Barnydrd  Gms*}. 


» 


PLATE   XXXIX. 


SETATCTA  fJf,AF<nA,  "Roanv 


PLATE    XL. 


SETARIA  ITALICA,  Kuntli.     (Hungarian  Grass'). 


PLATE  XLI. 


\\UPOC 


ANDROPOOON  FURCATU*,  Mulil.     (Bine  Stem"). 


SAMUEL  HUBBARD  SCUDDER  COLLECT! 
BIOLOGICAL  LABORATORY, 


ANDROPOGON  SCOP-ARIUS,  Michx.     (Wood  Grass'). 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

ENVIRONMENTAL  DESIGN 
LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


UUc  fcNLJ    h&ui  >LLAtoLe 

_  .-    1  n  "?  o                               ' 

WINTER        MAK 

1     1975 

PCRIOD 

LD  23A-50m-9,'67 
(H5067slO)476 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


